Increasing number of beggars irks Jeddawis

Jeddah residents are irked by the large number of beggars wandering in the streets and near the gates of mosques these days and have appealed to the Anti-Beggary Office and police authorities in the city to intensify inspections to eliminate beggary.
Abdullah Fellata said: “Begging is global phenomenon and even though it cannot be totally wiped out, it can be reduced drastically with firm government action.” He added that not only is beggary a social evil but it also tarnishes the image of Jeddah, the Bride of the Red Sea.
“Children aged between 10 and 15 years old can be seen begging at road intersections, streets, mosques, commercial centers and malls,” Fellata said. He noted the presence of hundreds of men, women and child beggars in poor neighborhoods such as the Hindawiyah district in south Jeddah where he lives.
“Authorities must arrest these beggars,” he urged.
Muhammad Abdul Jawad, a Saudi, said he personally did not like to give charity to beggars especially the children and able-bodied as it would discourage them from engaging in dignified labor.
“If beggars can earn money without working, it would only encourage their numbers to grow. Furthermore, the increasing number of beggars would deprive Jeddah, a major tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists of its civilized look,” Abdul Jawad warned.
He urged charitable people not to give any money to the street beggars. “It would be better to give charity to any of the several charity organizations operating in the city,” he said, adding that he gives any money he can spare or other items to charity organizations that feed and protect a number of poor and deserving families.
Ali Abdah narrated a bizarre experience he had with a beggar when he took his family for shopping to a commercial center in Jeddah recently.
“A limping 17-year old African youth approached us. He was lame and had a pathetic look that would melt anyone’s heart. I was overcome by pity and dropped a few riyals in his extended palm.
Suddenly, a team of anti-beggary officials descended there and started running after the teen beggar. As soon as he saw the officials, he bolted with such speed that no policeman could overtake him. Apparently, he was just pretending to be lame to cheat kind-hearted people,” he said.