KUWAIT CITY, Nov 6:  The number of Bedouns in Kuwait before 1965 was estimated to be around 35,000 and they will most likely get citizenship soon, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting sources.

Sources disclosed there are 106,000 Bedouns after 1965, which means 72,000 had been added to the abovementioned figure.  The government managed to identify the original nationality of many Bedouns through massive campaigns in schools and public institutions, resulting in the discovery that 42,000 of those who claim to be Bedouns actually hold the Iraqi citizenship, sources explained.

Sources said those who declared their real citizenship will be granted permanent residence in Kuwait and their status will be rectified in accordance with the law.  Sources confirmed Kuwait has obtained documents to prove that some of those who claim to be Bedouns are currently holding Arab nationalities and most of them are residing in Jahra.

The Information Center at the Ministry of Education, in coordination with the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), is planning to issue serial numbers to Bedoun students, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
The serial numbers will serve as Civil ID numbers for Bedoun students and will eliminate problems related to validity of their records in private and public education institutes.

Sources said PACI wants to hold an urgent meeting with authorities to implement the proposal before the first semester exams, which commence on Nov 12.

According to sources, PACI is facing problems in classifying the data due to the existence of certain categories which don’t qualify as Bedouns, such as children of Kuwaiti women married to Bedouns.