Manama: Kuwait is taking new steps to address the complex issue of bidoon (Arabs without proper documents) residents, officials have said.
Saleh Al Fadl Allah, the head of the Central Apparatus for bidoon, said that such residents will have free healthcare within a few days and free education starting the next academic year.
The officials aid that the new benefits were based on a decision by the cabinet and that he was meeting representatives from public agencies to agree on procedures to implement it.
Shaikh Khalid Al Sabah, the secretary-general of the Central Apparatus for Bidoon, said that an agreement had been reached with the health ministry to offer them full health care services for free at public hospitals and clinics, but must present a valid ID from the Executive Committee for Bidoon. Those who do not have the card will be given a health insurance card by Zakat House.
An agreement was also reached with the education ministry to allow bidoon residents who have a valid identity card to have a free education and books starting the next academic year, Kuwaiti Al Watan Daily reported.
Shaikh Khalid said that an agreement with the Civil Service Commission will allow the appointment of bidoon residents in some governmental jobs and that all bidoon who regularise their legal status are entitled to the benefits.
The issue of bidoon residents has always been a serious issue of contention among Kuwaitis.
Most statistics place their number at 110,000 and officials say they cannot be given the Kuwaiti citizenship on the grounds that they were citizens of other countries or that the ancestors of many of them came from neighbouring countries and were not entitled to nationality. Kuwait bans dual citizenship.
Last month, a group of the stateless resident staged a demonstration to demand citizenship, free education, free health care and jobs and benefits available to Kuwaiti nationals.
The new steps taken by the government are seen as a positive measure to address the issue.
