Foreign women beggars raise alarm in Nangarhar

JALALABAD (PAN):  Residents in the eastern Nangarhar province are perturbed by the rise in foreign female beggars who are alleged to be spreading sexually transmitted diseases and luring local youths into immoral activities.

Many of these beggars are not Pashtun or Dari speakers, but they communicate in Hinko or Balochi languages, a shopkeeper in Jalalabad city, Hajji Malang, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

“These women are very ill-mannered and carry different kinds of contagious diseases and they misguide youths,” he said.

Similarly, other residents in Jalalabad city also complained that about 130 beggars are roaming around the city daily.

“We are tired of these foreign female beggars in the city,” said another resident of 3rd police district of Jalalabad, Safiullah.

One of the beggars, only named as Arjna, lamented: “I from Karachi City of Pakistan, I came to Jalalabad due to poverty, we are poor people. We are unlucky.”

Several patients referred to the Nangarhar Civil Hospital are suffering from sexually transmitted diseases, said the director of public health Dr. Baz Mohammad Sherzad.

“Doctors are the witness, many patients are infected by UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) or other diseases caused by illegal sexual relations. If such women (beggars) find any chance, they will engage in immoral acts,” he added.

The growing social issue was highlighted at the management meetings, but actions are yet to be taken against the beggars, he added.

The provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Abdullah Stanikzai, said they have deported several beggars and

continuing to flush out foreigners involved in immoral activities in the city. 

“There is no case registered with the police about sexual related diseases or illegal sexual activities,” he added.

During the administrative meeting of the governor’s office, police headquarters, department of labour and social affairs and the provincial department of Afghan Red Crescent Society, authorities were instructed to prevent foreign beggars in the province, said the governor’s spokesman Ahmad Zai Abdulzai.

Similarly, the issue of female beggars spreading sexual-related diseases had raised alarm in Kabul and Herat provinces as well. Recently four female beggars alleged involved in immoral activities were caught red handed in Kabul.

Myn/vp

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