Residents in the northern regions of the country said they encountered beggars trying to take advantage of the emerging Corona virus crisis.
They explained that there are beggars who use masks as a cover for their faces, so that their identities are not exposed, and others sit in front of the centers of the centers and associations, and appear on their faces features of misery and compassion for the sympathy of people. As other beggars exploit the shoppers, and ask for money from them on the pretext of leaving work, or that they came to the state on a visit visa and were left stranded, due to the current health conditions in the country and the world.
And the police of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah warned against responding to begging beggars, or dealing with them with feelings of compassion and kindness for their appearance during the current health crisis, which they exploit to gain from begging.
They also published field teams specialized in combating begging throughout the holy month of Ramadan.
In detail, the citizen Abdullah Mohamed confirmed that while he was standing in the parking lots of one of the branches of the cooperative society, he was surprised by a young girl knocking on the window of his vehicle, and she tells him that she lost her work and her husband, and she wants only 10 dirhams to buy bread and an essential need sufficient for breakfast, noting that he refused to give her what she requested, But she kept explaining his circumstances to him until he gave her 10 dirhams.
He stressed that during the past days of Ramadan, he faced many beggars who claim that they cannot live due to the current crisis, the loss of work, or they came to the state, and they were stranded, despite the presence of charitable societies, platforms and electronic community initiatives to help those in need and those affected by the "Corona crisis" ».
He pointed out that beggars take precautionary measures as a mask to hide their details and hide behind them, to avoid legal violations and not to arrest and report them, as they are keen to wear masks during begging or while they are in front of commercial centers and cooperative societies.
A resident of Sharjah, Ahmed Faris, confirmed that a woman of an Arab nationality was putting a muzzle on her face, she stopped him in front of the gate of the mall, and claimed that she could not provide food for her family, and showed him a paper stating that she had to pay a financial sum due to her.
He added that he offered her to go with her to see her situation and provide her with assistance, but she refused and ran away.
And he continued that her refusal to help him indicates her lack of sincerity, and that she creates false stories for the sympathy of the members of society, especially in the holy month of Ramadan, in which charities and donations abound, indicating that most beggars are hiding their faces behind the masks, so that the security authorities can not identify with them.
Citizen Maryam Al Shamsi confirmed that she spotted an elderly woman sitting in front of the door of one of the cooperative societies, and in front of her were two bags filled with foodstuffs, and consumers were helping them during their exit.
She said that curiosity forced her to go to her, and asked her why she was sitting in this place and not afraid to report her.
She added that while talking to her, she refused to answer her questions, and she created fictional stories, such as the lack of a home for her or a breadwinner to support her, so she offered to deliver her to a charity to help her, but she refused.
She said, "This woman is begging in an intelligent and innovative way. She depends on her appearance to seek people, without asking them anything or talking to them about her problems."
One of the residents, Malik Jamal, confirmed that there are a number of beggars of different nationalities who knocked on the door of his apartment during the past days of Ramadan, and invented stories, such as job losses, and their inability to provide food for their children, noting that he informed the building official about them, but he could not identify To them, because they wear a muzzle.
Sharjah Police reported that they launched a security and awareness campaign to combat the phenomenon of begging during the holy month of Ramadan, under the slogan "Fight begging and help those who deserve it", with the aim of educating community members about the risks involved in this extraneous phenomenon to society.
She pointed out that the campaign aims to reduce the negative phenomena that are increasing during the holy month of Ramadan, through the proliferation of beggars and street vendors in residential places, markets and commercial centers or near fuel filling stations, creating various reasons and excuses, in order to win the sympathy of the public to help them.
The Ras Al Khaimah Police also deployed field teams to fight begging throughout the holy month of Ramadan.
And stressed the intensification of its activity in the markets and residential areas, to monitor beggars and to control everyone who takes advantage of the holy month to beg begging.
And she emphasized working to monitor beggars, day and night, to catch and interrogate them, and to take legal action on them.
Lawyer Dr. Raed Al-Awlaqi said that the federal law on begging control stipulates that “he shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months and a fine of no less than 5,000 dirhams, whoever commits the crime of begging, and is considered an aggravating circumstance if the crime of begging is committed by a beggar who is well-intentioned or has An apparent resource for living, or if it creates a wound or permanent disability or pretends to perform a service to others or use any other means of deception and deceit with the intent to influence others to gain their sympathy ».
Safe channels
Sharjah Police called on community members to contribute to eliminating negative phenomena on the community, and to do good through safe channels, indicating the possibility of donating through charities and institutions approved by government agencies, and cooperating with the security services to immediately report any beggar monitored anywhere.
"A beggar sympathizes with mallers with papers that include financial claims."
"A young woman knocks on the windows of cars ... and asks drivers ... (only 10 dirhams)."
"An elderly woman who relies on her old clothes and her sad appearance for the sympathy of the malls."