Riyadh begins property acquisition for major road development projects    Saudi minister explores strategic industrial and mining partnerships with top Russian firms    Riyadh's Creative District to welcome Italy's Istituto Marangoni    CMA approves major reforms to ease investment account access for foreign and local investors    Saudi Arabia reaffirms OPEC+ compliance as June crude supply hits 9.35 million bpd    Lithuanian politicians taken to shelters after Belarus airspace violation alarm    EU leaders agree to send delegation to Libya after previous group expelled from country    Armenia and Azerbaijan move closer to peace, pushing Russia out from the South Caucasus    Trump says he will hike tariffs on Canadian goods to 35%    France's Lady Liberty artwork goes viral as a new Statue of Liberty could be in the works    Saudi population reaches 35.3 million in 2024, majority under 65    GASTAT: Industrial Production Index rises by 1.5% in May    Theo Hernández: Al Hilal can compete with Europe's best    Abdullah Al-Qaisoom wins silver at Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship    Aubameyang's future at Al Qadsiah in doubt after cryptic post comparing Saudi League strikers    Makkah Deputy Emir leads washing of Holy Kaaba    SFDA approves 'Winrevair' for rare pulmonary hypertension treatment    HONOR returns to Esports World Cup as Official Smartphone Partner for 2025 The renewed commitment will see HONOR elevate mobile esports competition with cutting-edge AI technologies and industry-leading hardware    Michael Madsen, actor of 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs' fame, dead at 67    BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Chaotic market thriving under a bridge in Jeddah
By Arif Al-Shehri
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 08 - 02 - 2010

Over 1,000 male and female illegal African residents have turned the area under Al-Khair Bridge adjacent to Petromin District in south Jeddah into a chaotic market and are selling goods of unknown origin.
Women beggars, ostensibly selling small inexpensive items, are seen working at the traffic signals in the area and roaming the alleys in search of their daily bread.
Residents and shopkeepers in the neighboring areas complain that they are being harmed by the large number of illegal expatriates who have made their home under Al-Khair Bridge and have set up a market in the middle of the street.
Local residents demand that the authorities carrying out security raids to arrest these overstayers who they feel pose a threat to society by spreading disease and crime.
Many of those living under the bridge are asking for nothing more than to be deported, free of charge, to their countries.
Muhammad Adam, a member of a Nigerian group of expatriates living under the bridge, said he and his fellow countrymen are at a loss and helpless, as they came from their country either to perform Haj or Umrah, but for one reason or another, could not find the means to return home.
He stressed the keenness of those living under the bridge to depart for their countries as soon as possible and in any way they can.
“Our consulates show no interest in our plight, problems and current status. All they do is attest our identification papers, if any,” he said.
Further complicating the issue is the fact that many of the infants and small children in the group of illegal residents were born during their parents' stay under the bridge or in nearby districts. Many of these children are suffering from disease in the absence of health services and the necessary vaccinations.
Maj. Abdulrahman Al-Husseini, spokesman of Jeddah Passports Department, confirmed that groups of overstayers of certain nationalities have made a habit of gathering in specific locations waiting to be deported. He said that the Passports Department will carry out deportation campaigns and that all of those who are deported will be fingerprinted to determine if they are criminals and to prevent their reentry into the Kingdom at a later date.


Clic here to read the story from its source.