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Sharjah
Vendors sell various things, such as fruit and vegetables, new and used crockery, utensils, electronic appliances, toys, plastic goods, shoes, clothes and accessories that are laid out on the road and atop parked vehicles in the midst of heaps of garbage, unhygienic conditions and traffic congestion. This is the sight that greets visitors on weekends at a temporary flea market, also known as the Bengali Bazaar, held at Street 8 and 9 in Area 11 of Mussafah, in Abu Dhabi. Some vendors also prepare fried foods at roadside stalls.
A walk through this market gave me a greater insight into the living conditions of the workers who were gathered here to shop. I decided to document everything I came across in the form of photographs. It was surprising to see men preparing jalebi, a popular sweet delicacy from the Indian subcontinent, potato fritters and other savory snacks in the open air. However, the interesting scene soon transformed into disappointment when I noticed how these men used their bare hands to handle these food items. Sliced watermelon that was placed on a block of ice attracted flies and yet had countless buyers.
Further into this market, a man was seen preparing barbeque in the middle of the road, with cars driving past. The meat was stocked in some utensils kept nearby that looked extremely dirty. The manner in which the meat was handled without the use of gloves and the environment it was being prepared in, made me wonder if it was safe for consumption.
It was also shocking to come across men having their hair and beard trimmed on the roadside, very close to where the food was being cooked and sold to customers.
The place was as filthy as a landfill. So much food was wasted and other fresh produce was being mishandled and dumped onto the road. It was heartbreaking to see some people sifting through rotten fruits and other waste such as peels, plastic bags and cardboard boxes to be able to get something out of it.
These open markets should be monitored closely as this could lead to many illegal activities. It would be ideal if the concerned authorities could give these people a permanent place to host these festivities instead of taking onto the roads and causing inconvenience to the public. In my opinion, these workers deserve a better, cleaner shopping venue and a decent standard of living.
— The reader is a student based in Sharjah.
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