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Saudi- Overstayers child beggars arrested
(MENAFN- Arab News) The Riyadh police rounded up 330 expatriates including 57 male and female beggars who had been residing in the capital illegally for several years. Among the arrested beggars were a large number of child beggars who were manning the streets near the traffic lights.
Most of the beggars who were caught were foreign nationals. Illegal expatriates will be deported while locals will be sent for rehabilitation which is programmed by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Police raids were conducted upon directives issued by Riyadh Gov. Prince Turki Bin Abdullah. The arrests come in a bid to curb crime rates including theft sorcery brewing liquor and other illegal activity. The operations were carried out in the districts of Manfouha Deerah Qubeirah and Sulay.
Police combed construction sites abandoned buildings market places malls and streets for child beggars and others illegal residents during the roundup. According to a police official most of those arrested included people who have overstayed their Haj or Umrah visas and have infiltrated the capital from Jeddah.
The police requested the public not to fall victim to sob stories told by beggars. The official said that members of the public can divert such beggars to charitable organizations that have special programs to rehabilitate the beggar population and look after their families.
'Some of these beggars try to exploit the kindness of the people for their own benefit' he said. The police found that some of these expats are not professional beggars.
'They used to go begging as and when they are pressed for cash' the official said. A survey conducted by UNICEF in 2007 found that up to 50 percent of child beggars in the Kingdom entered the country with their parents.
UNICEF also trains border guards on how to recognize and take care of trafficked children. This program was developed from an agreement with Saudi Arabia and trains and teaches how to treat children during their arrest and having them deported back home safely.
Begging increases in the Kingdom during the Haj pilgrimage season and during the holy month of Ramadan when it is customary to give charity.
Most of the beggars who were caught were foreign nationals. Illegal expatriates will be deported while locals will be sent for rehabilitation which is programmed by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Police raids were conducted upon directives issued by Riyadh Gov. Prince Turki Bin Abdullah. The arrests come in a bid to curb crime rates including theft sorcery brewing liquor and other illegal activity. The operations were carried out in the districts of Manfouha Deerah Qubeirah and Sulay.
Police combed construction sites abandoned buildings market places malls and streets for child beggars and others illegal residents during the roundup. According to a police official most of those arrested included people who have overstayed their Haj or Umrah visas and have infiltrated the capital from Jeddah.
The police requested the public not to fall victim to sob stories told by beggars. The official said that members of the public can divert such beggars to charitable organizations that have special programs to rehabilitate the beggar population and look after their families.
'Some of these beggars try to exploit the kindness of the people for their own benefit' he said. The police found that some of these expats are not professional beggars.
'They used to go begging as and when they are pressed for cash' the official said. A survey conducted by UNICEF in 2007 found that up to 50 percent of child beggars in the Kingdom entered the country with their parents.
UNICEF also trains border guards on how to recognize and take care of trafficked children. This program was developed from an agreement with Saudi Arabia and trains and teaches how to treat children during their arrest and having them deported back home safely.
Begging increases in the Kingdom during the Haj pilgrimage season and during the holy month of Ramadan when it is customary to give charity.
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