Most of these people, a mix of runaway workers and pilgrim-visa overstayers, living here beneath tarps and other flimsy temporary housing are of Asian origin.
The phenomenon of illegal immigrants camping out under the bridge has been going on for quite some time, but the situation has turned nasty recently when disturbances broke out and police were called in to make arrests.
The overstayers were reportedly creating troubles on purpose so they would be picked up by immigration police and deported from the country free of charge. Some of the squatters vandalized parked cars and caused damage to nearby properties.
Deportation proceedings are hampered because many there do not posses identification.
Police have long urged foreign missions to expedite the issuance of travel documents so that the migrants can be deported.
“We are presently liaising with their consulates and embassies to deport them,” said Jeddah police spokesman Col. Misfer Al-Juaid.
Meanwhile, people living and working nearby are fuming.
“Some of them come to us begging every day,” said nearby restaurant worker Ali Abdul Aleem.
“Most of these people live on charity, but some have resorted to stealing,” he added.
Local resident Ashraf Mahmoud said plainly that crime and garbage have increased as the encampment has grown.
“Many cars have been stolen and a number of shops have been robbed,” said Mahmoud.
Local police do not regularly provide crime statistics for different Jeddah districts, so determining by how much crime has gone up over time in the area is not available.
Under a royal amnesty announced recently, illegal residents have until March to turn themselves in for deportation without facing the punitive fine of SR10,000 per person.
