The tournament, which kicks off on November 20, has long been controversial due to the conditions in which mainly Asian and African workers have had to work, building the necessary stadiums and infrastructure. Those conditions would have been so bad that many people were injured or killed.
Journalists cannot see where guest workers live. Correspondent Olaf Koens took a look earlier – secretly:
But now many of the workers are forced to seek refuge elsewhere, victims told Reuters. Some people, out of desperation, have gone to sleep on the mattresses on the sidewalk in front of the building where they used to live.
Expelled from the houses
The authorities had not announced this in advance. In a building that residents say housed 1,200 people in Doha’s Al Mansoura neighborhood, people were told around 8pm on Wednesday that they only had two hours to leave.
At around 10:30 pm, people were literally evicted from their homes and the doors of the building were closed. Some of the men, unaware of the action, hadn’t even returned in time to collect their belongings.
Migrant workers who have long made a living in the Gulf state have also become victims. Mohammed, a Bangladeshi driver, said he lived in the same area for 14 years until Wednesday, when the council told him he had 48 hours to vacate the property he shared with 38 other people.
He indicated that the workers who built the infrastructure for Qatar to host the World Cup are being sidelined as the tournament approaches. “Who made the stadiums? Who made the streets? Who made it all? Bengalis, Pakistanis. Now they let us all out.”
Update city
The Qatari government says the evictions have nothing to do with the World Cup. The government’s approach is said to be part of plans to renovate parts of Doha. According to a spokesperson, everyone would be given a new home by now. He also says the workers would be informed in time.
FIFA has not yet answered Reuters questions.
