JEDDAH, 14 October 2007 — The huge houses, castles and villas which used to be a characteristic part of the Kandara district of Jeddah have now become illegal squats for overstayers. They have taken over many of the buildings and live there in groups with their children.
The local branch of the Passport Department, it seems, is unwilling to do anything about the problem. In a report carried by Al-Madinah newspaper, a number of violations were documented in the district.
In addition to the crime of occupying other people’s property, the overstayers, mainly from Africa, spend their time in Jeddah scavenging recyclable soft drink cans and other useful materials and store them in the area for later use.
Kandara residents have urged authorities to intervene and put an end to these violations. Some say that the presence of overstayers is dangerous and added that they threaten their safety. Others point out that there are many sellers who come to the area willing to sell their expired food and products.
According to residents such products are dangerous and can threaten the health and lives of people even though the poor of the district are keen to buy them because of their low prices.
Other locals thought that drug abuse and the practice of magic were spreading among those living in these castles. They said that the authorities have to do something in order to keep access clear to the district for the emergency services.
Among the food that overstayers store in the district is bread. They collect it from bins and restaurants and bring it to their squats.
Since bread is not stored properly, it tends to smell which bothers passers by and local residents. The decaying matter also encourages the breeding of flies, mosquitoes and other insects that gather at the locations and are a potential threat to public health.
A source at the municipality said that it was willing to implement a program to improve the services in the district as well as its general appearance.
He agreed that the narrow streets prevent ambulances and civil defense trucks from going into the district in case of an emergency.
The source added that neither could garbage trucks enter the district and this added to the problem caused by the accumulation of rubbish.
According to the source, the municipality is willing to attempt to attract private investors in order to improve the districts.
A source at the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice said that the commission was able to address various problems surrounding the practice of black magic in this district. He advised the public against consulting or dealing with the magicians.
In a sting operation in the area recently, secret police in Jeddah arrested two men, who allegedly swindled thousands of riyals from people claiming they were black magicians.
The two Cameroonians had arrived in the Kingdom on Umrah visas and overstayed.
