KUWAIT CITY: As security raids by the Ministry of Interior to find illegal residents in the country are in full force, official figures show a massive evacuation of people from Jalib Al Shuyukh, the country’s second busiest city. In 2019, there were about 3,28,000 people, and 56,779 people migrated to different areas, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. By the end of 2021, the population has declined to 2,71,000.
Lockdowns during Covid and ongoing security raids are cited as reasons for the mass exodus. There are many expatriates including Malayalees living in Jalib Al Shuyukh which includes two areas namely Abbasiya and Hasavi.
Amidst the efforts to re-open institutions and investment projects that were closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, Malayalee expatriates are moving out of the area in droves.
According to official sources, the number of displaced persons is likely to increase as more security raids are carried out to find Iqama violators. The government plans to reduce the number of residency offenders by 50 percent this year.