Don't encourage alms-seekers by giving them money, senior official in Dubai says
Dubai: Residents have a key role to play in helping reduce the growing menace of begging in the emirate, according to a senior official.
Cases of strangers knocking at the doors or accosting people at parking lots or near mosques have increased in the recent past and according to officials residents should take part of the blame for this "as they encourage these people by giving them money".
More than 550 beggars were arrested last year by Dubai Municipality inspectors, still there are hundreds more prowling mostly the residential areas of the city.
"These people pose a threat to the security of neighbourhoods. Residents should understand that they are inviting trouble by helping them. By opening the door and helping them, residents are inviting trouble on themselves as we come across so many cases when these people enter the house and try to take advantage if a woman is alone," said Obaid Ebrahim Al Marzouqi, Head of Markets section at Dubai Municipality (DM).
He added: "No matter how many people are arrested, as long as residents don't stop helping these people, they will continue to resort to begging to earn money, because it is easy and once a person gets the taste of this he continues to do it."
Sob stories
Beggars come up with different sob stories and residents say it is difficult to say no to them in such situations.
"Most people who ask for help don't look like professional beggars. On many occasions they seem to be people in financial trouble so they are seeking help to come out of it. As a human being you get moved after listening to such sob stories, so it is difficult not to help," says Syed Abdullah, who is a resident of Dubai for the past 30 years.
Begs to differ
Al Marzouqi begs to differ. He says, "If a person is genuinely in trouble then there are organisations in the city which are ready to help him. Most of these people are either illegal residents or criminals and they are a security threat. By helping beggars residents are breaking the law as well as encouraging a harmful practice, which is not part of our culture."
This is exactly what Samiha Jameel, a resident of Karama, is worried about.
"There are too many people walking around asking for help. You come across them wherever you go. I don't like strangers knocking at my door or walking up to me in parking lots or on roads. On many occasions they come and try to sell small items, if you don't want to buy they ask for money anyway," said Jameel, adding that it is difficult to deal with such cases.
Report them
The best way to deal with cases of begging is by calling Dubai Municipality's toll free number 800900. It has a dedicated team, which is working round the clock to help tackle this issue.
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