Jordan's Ministry of Social Development has apprehended nearly 8,000 beggars from the beginning of this year through the end of October, including individuals found carrying large sums of money, Director of the Ministry's Anti-Begging Directorate Riyad Arabiyat said on Wednesday.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking on Public Security Radio, Arabiyat said the directorate had conducted 4,865 anti-begging campaigns through the end of September, resulting in the apprehension of 7,174 beggars. He stressed that the campaigns are continuing in cooperation with the Public Security Directorate across the Kingdom's governorates.
Among those apprehended was a woman found carrying $46,600. She had been converting the money collected through begging into foreign currencies, Arabiyat said, adding that legal action had been taken against her.
He also highlighted cases involving the exploitation of children for begging. Some children were found collecting more than JD80 a day, while other beggars were apprehended accompanied by children who were found not to be their own.
Arabiyat noted that some begging cases had escalated to the level of human trafficking, with cases referred to the judiciary in cooperation with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. He stressed that begging had become a profession for some individuals rather than a matter of genuine need.
Anti-begging teams also apprehended seven beggars in Zarqa Governorate following reports about their presence, while joint campaigns were conducted to address begging in Karak Governorate.
Arabiyat urged citizens not to give money directly to beggars and instead to direct their charitable donations to registered charities and licensed organisations.
He said reports of begging cases can be submitted through the hotline: 0793344330.
