JEDDAH, 21 June — Many Afghan and African children are seen begging at major traffic intersections and roundabouts across the city day and night. The children, who are in the average age of seven, carry with them some cheap merchandise to conceal their real motive.
The anti-beggary offices, with limited personnel, find themselves in a difficult position in handling the issue. Attempting to catch the youngsters in the act of begging would put them in serious danger. Seeing the security officials, the frightened children would hurriedly cross the street cutting through the speeding traffic of vehicles.
It is believed that there are more than 300 such children deployed at various traffic points around the city. Their workdays begin early in the morning and last until well past midnight. These children are dropped at and picked up from their assigned workstations by their “masters”.
They are brought from their native countries in groups to work for a specific duration. Their parents receive their wages in advance.
The modus operandi is simple. They approach drivers pulling up at the red lights pleading them to buy their merchandise, which range from chewing gums to imported electronic ware. If they fail to persuade the driver to buy, they try to evoke his sympathy.
These children run a race against time. There are many cars in the lane they want to approach before the signal turns green. On an average, they spend five seconds per car. If the driver declined to wind down his window, they step back and rush toward the car behind.
It is a pity that these school-age children are made to work under the scorching summer sun throughout the day. Though they sell chilled water, they cannot quench their own thirst because it is against the terms of their “employment contract.”
