04/08/2023
04/08/2023
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 3: In defiance of the government's efforts to restore order and the vigilant work of inspection teams, informal labor has made a robust resurgence, reclaiming internal roads and entranceways to residential neighborhoods within the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh district.
A survey was conducted across several streets in the area unveiled the dire living conditions endured by expats. An overwhelming portion of the streets was submerged in sewage water, some so severely that their contours became obscured, rendering them impassable for both pedestrians and vehicles. This deluge of wastewater has transformed into sustenance for stray dogs and cats, perpetuating an alarming cycle reports Al Qabas.
Despite the continuous crackdown led by a tripartite committee involving the Public Authority for Manpower and the Residence Affairs Investigation, illicit labor continues to hold sway, encroaching upon streets and giving rise to makeshift markets. The overwhelming stench of sewage remains unabated.
This inquiry exposed a glaring lack of oversight from environmental monitoring bodies, whether the Environment Public Authority or the Ministry of Works. Their absence has contributed to sewage overflow issues, aggravated by the complete closure of numerous streets, impeding the mobility of expats and necessitating the evacuation of multiple apartments and buildings. The chaotic presence of stray dogs, scavenging for sustenance amidst informal markets, compounds the challenges.
The internal roadways bear the brunt of destruction, their surfaces marred by sewage pools, rendering them impassable for vehicles and hampering the ingress of emergency services during fire outbreaks or rescue operations.
The survey further disclosed that a multitude of informal workers sift through a container designated for discarded and tattered clothing, located within the expanse of Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Some of these workers gather around the receptacle, sifting through the discarded garments and hanging them on hooks affixed to residential walls. These items are then displayed for passersby, with a portion of them stopping to make purchases.
A spokesperson for these ragged garments shared that numerous residents find value in these items, many of which are still in usable condition. The clothing is sourced from other areas through informal labor and subsequently deposited here. A team of workers, operating during the afternoon hours, engages in the collection, sorting, and retail presentation of these garments.
"Jleeb Chaos" Summarized:
- Absence of environmental inspection teams aggravates dire situation.
- Proliferation of unregulated markets beyond the purview of oversight.
- Marginal labor reoccupies internal roads and residential perimeters.
- Widespread flooding due to sewage overflow.
- Pervasive presence of stray animals subsisting on wastewater.
- Public display of produce in proximity to noxious odors.
- Dilapidated streets hinder fire and ambulance access.