Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Vendors selling fruit and vegetables of dubious origin have been gathering in Al-Nikasa and Al-Mansour Street neighborhoods of Makkah since the beginning of Ramadan. Al-Nikasa is considered a key artery in Makkah, and is the city's most outlying district both southerly and westerly. A number of residents have complained that the vendors obstruct traffic in the district, and that they sell products of unknown origin. Alleging that many of the street vendors are foreigners violating residency regulations, a number of residents demanded official intervention to end the phenomenon. Saad Al-Matrafi complained that the stalls hold up traffic in the neighborhood. He also said the merchandise is kept in the scorching heat for hours, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption. Saeed Al-Rasheedi, another resident, claimed that consuming vegetables purchased at the stands had caused him stomach problems in the past. Mohamed, a resident of Al-Nikasa, said the stalls are a recurring feature in Ramadan. He called on the authorities to intervene, as the fruit and vegetables sold represent a health risk. Additionally, Mohamed claimed that the stall operators discard rotten produce in the street, thus polluting the environment. Mohamed Al-Subhy alleged that many vendors in Al-Nikasa are violators of the residency system. Khalid Al-Nadawi claimed this was true of many Al-Mansour Street vendors as well. Al-Nadawi accused shop and home owners of renting their places cheaply to illegal residents. He explained that the vendors find their customers in African and Asian communities, as they sell indigenous spices at low prices. A source at the Makkah municipality affirmed that the municipality coordinates with the police to rectify such violations. He claimed that the municipality regularly patrols the streets to prevent street vendor violations. The source called on all Makkah residents to cooperate with the authorities to eradicate the problem.
