Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — A task force representing the concerned government departments in Makkah is addressing the problems of the Burmawi community in the holy city with the intent of granting them residency permits (iqamas) and help them find jobs, according to informed sources. The task force began its activities last Thursday with the chief of the Burmawi community Abu Al-Shama Abdul Majeed urging the team to expedite the enumeration process so as to correct the situation of the Burmese residents in the Kingdom. The immigrants from Burma (Myanmar), who have been residents of the Kingdom for many years without official papers after fleeing persecution in their country, are mainly concentrated in the Misfalah district of Makkah. The task force has divided the district into sub-sections to facilitate and hasten the numbering and registration of the Burmese residents. On behalf of all Burmese refugees in and outside the Kingdom, Abdul Majeed expressed his thanks and appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for this kind gesture and said the King has always gave the community his utmost care and concern. He said members of the community have been overjoyed to know of the decision to finally grant them residency permits. Quoting statistics released by the Ministry of Interior, the Burmawi chief said the meetings held recently among all members of the community under the supervision of the Makkah governorate have helped bring down the crime rate in the area by about 37 percent. Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal announced in a TV interview last week that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has directed the concerned authorities to correct the legal status of the inhabitants of the underdeveloped areas of Makkah who are estimated to be in thousands and who have been staying in the Kingdom for long years.
