- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Jeddah's traditional 'Omdah' looks after city neighbourhood
- Date: 24th April 2014
- Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (RECENT) (REUTERS ) VARIOUS OF MALAK BA ISSA, OMDAH OF THE AL-SHAM AND AL-MATHLOOM NEIGHBOURHOOD IN HIS OFFICE SIGNING PAPERS ONE OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD LOCALS GIVING PAPERS TO OMDAH ASKING FOR HELP OMDAH CHECKING THE PAPERS BIG BANNER READING (ARABIC) 'OMDAH OF THE AL-SHAM AND AL-MATHLOOM' OMDAH LOOKING AT PAPERS AND TALKING TO MAN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MALAK BA ISSA, OMDAH OF THE AL-SHAM AND AL-MATHLOOM NEIGHBOURHOOD IN JEDDAH ,SAYING: ''The idea of the Omdah is something that has been going on for a long time, in particular here in the Hijaz. The Omdah is considered as the first man to go to regarding the law, in solving problems between individuals, the administration of the neighbourhood, and to inspect the conditions of people living in the neighbourhood, so from this came the role of the Omdah, he is seen as the governor on the borders of his neighbourhood.'' VARIOUS OF AWARDS ON SHELF IN OMDAH'S OFFICE VARIOUS OF OMDAH PUTTING ON HIS TRADITIONAL OMDAH HEADSCARF OMDAH ENTERING ONE OF THE SHOPS IN HIS NEIGHBOURHOOD, GREETING THE OWNER MAN SERVING COFFEE TO OMDAH OMDAH DRINKING COFFEE SIGN AND PICTURE OF MAN WHO OWNS SHOP KNOWN AS 'MAJLIS HOSPITALITY PLACE' OMDAH SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE AT THE MAJLIS OMDAH TALKING TO PEOPLE SEATED AT THE MAJLIS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMED AL-BAHLOULI, MOSQUES MONITOR IN THE HISTORIC AREA OF JEDDAH, SAYING: ''The Omdah is the person that you rely on, and he is authorised (to work) by the government departments. He is familiar with everything people rely on him and he is considered to be the father of the neighbourhood, everything relays back to the Omdah. But without the support of people, there is no Omdah.'' OMDAH ENTERING HOUSE IN MOURNING, SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE PEOPLE SEATED IN MOURNING OMDAH SHAKING HANDS AND SITTING WITH A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IN MOURNING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MALAK BA ISSA,OMDAH OF THE AL-SHAM AND AL-MATHLOOM NEIGHBOURHOOD IN JEDDAH , SAYING: ''The nature of my work involves having to do field trips within the region as a whole to inspect the situation, sometimes I don't receive the information about things while I am at the office, I see it on the ground, I meet some people in the street, some charity houses (for widows) if they need something, if they're elderly women it's hard for them to get out and communicate with me through the office so I visit them.'' OMDAH SHAKING HANDS WITH FOUR MEN OMDAH TELLING A PATIENT OF APPROVAL FOR KIDNEY MEDICATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) YASSER, RESIDENT OF HISTORIC JEDDAH, SAYING: ''You always find him in the case of death, if there's a funeral, or anything like that he's the first on duty. He brings chairs, mattresses, he does all the work, if there is the need for humanitarian assistance. If there is someone who needs something, if someone is ill, or there are poor families, or poor people and they have nobody else to ask, he asks after them and cares for them.'' VARIOUS OF THE OMDAH KNOCKING ON DOOR AND ENTERING HOUSE FOR OLD WOMEN, CHECKING THEIR NEEDS
- Embargoed: 9th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: General,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA2Y21QFZJAYGU9WIQORZ38X9E7
- Story Text: Sitting in his Jeddah neighbourhood office, an Omdah surveys his paperwork and receives notifications of new problems.
Malak Ba Issa is the Omdah of the Al-Sham and Al-Mathloom neighbourhoods in Jeddah, a leadership role akin to a local mayor, but one that is unelected and recognised by tradition.
The people of the historic old city neighbourhoods go to Issa with their problems and troubles and he helps solve them. He acts as a link between local people and businesses, police, state officialdom and local government departments. His remit runs from mediating in neighbourly disputes to looking after elderly members of the community and helping people with legal and health issues, and his authority is accredited and recognised by local people and by state officials.
''The idea of the Omdah is something that has been going on for a long time, in particular here in the Hijaz. The Omdah is considered as the first man to go to regarding the law, in solving problems between individuals, the administration of the neighbourhood, and to inspect the conditions of people living in the neighbourhood, so from this came the role of the Omdah, he is seen as the governor on the borders of his neighbourhood,'' Issa says.
Knowing most of the people in the neighbourhood means Issa's testimony and his signature is accepted and recognised on legal documents and official papers.
As well as mediating local disputes, the Omdah's role includes aspects of police and social work; he keeps an eye on safety and security within his neighbourhood, monitors behaviour, refers poor people to charity and helps the disabled. He polices those carrying weapons, drug users, reports thefts and assists those who have suffered from crimes, and helps unemployed people search for work.
''The Omdah is the person that you rely on, and he is authorised (to work) by the government departments. He is familiar with everything people rely on him and he is considered to be the father of the neighbourhood, everything relays back to the Omdah. But without the support of people, there is no Omdah,'' Mohammed Al-Bahlouli, Mosques Monitor in the historic area of Jeddah.
The position of Omdah is historically passed between old families of the Hijaz, rather like being sheikh of a tribe.
His duties are many and varied and he is never off duty, often working into the night.
Issa prepares to go out, wearing his distinctive turban, he will attend funerals and weddings, visit locals in their homes, discuss problems and help find solutions.
''The nature of my work involves having to do field trips within the region as a whole to inspect the situation, sometimes I don't receive the information about things while I am at the office, I see it on the ground, I meet some people in the street, some charity houses (for widows) if they need something, if they're elderly women it's hard for them to get out and communicate with me through the office so I visit them.'' Tonight he brings good news to a local man who has kidney disease and needs dialysis - he has been approved for free treatment.
''You always find him in the case of death, if there's a funeral, or anything like that he's the first on duty. He brings chairs, mattresses, he does all the work, if there is the need for humanitarian assistance," said Yasser.
"If there is someone who needs something, if someone is ill, or there are poor families, or poor people and they have nobody else to ask, he asks after them and cares for them,''Yasser added.
At the end of his long day, Issa has one final visit to make. He visits the widows and old people of his neighbourhood, making sure all is well before heading home to bed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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