Overstayers inundating Makkah’s Al-Haj neighborhood: Residents

Ahmad Al-Afifi
Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH – The residents of Al-Haj neighborhood say that the area has recently seen an influx of illegal workers. The residents are worried and concerned that epidemics like dengue fever will spread due to the accumulated garbage in streets caused by the workers. They demanded that the Passport Department intensify raids in the area.

Resident Moti Musa called upon authorities to put an end to the spread of overstayers in the neighborhood and blamed fake Umrah and Haj companies for the phenomenon. While resident Atiyah Mahmoud said the neighborhood had become dangerous as illegal workers roamed the streets.

“We’re scared that a crime might take place any minute because of the large number of illegal workers,” said Mahmoud while adding that garbage had accumulated in the neighborhood and people feared contracting diseases.
Ahmad Al-Otaibi said Asian overstayers could be seen everywhere and some residents had already left the area.

“There aren’t enough garbage containers here to cope with the influx of overstayers. This is the perfect environment for mosquitos and other insects to thrive in,” he said.

Lt. Col. Muhammad Al-Hussein, spokesman for Makkah Passport Deparment, said raids to capture and deport overstayers have not stopped and they are being carried on a continuous basis. He called upon citizens not to employ or house illegal workers and asked people to report them to the authorities.
Sahal Milibari, spokesman for public services department at the Makkah Mayoralty, said his department carries out regular inspections of districts to insure they are properly cleaned. He added that citizens can report a shortage of garbage containers by calling 940.