JEDDAH, 16 November 2004 — Sales of firecrackers are burgeoning on the Corniche despite warnings that their use is dangerous to people visiting the beach. Lack of control over the sale or use of potentially harmful, cheap imported fireworks has prompted raids on itinerants selling them to the Eid crowds.
A survey by Arab News has found that the majority of vendors involved in the sales of firecrackers are young Chadian women. “I have been doing this business for the last four years,” Khadeeja, 14, told Arab News.
According to Noora, 17, another Chadian who works about 15 hours a day during Eid, it is a profitable business. Fatma, 15, however, said she did not like the job because of the problems of raids by officials and harassment by teenagers.
Municipal officials conduct random raids to prevent sales of firecrackers. “I work at night to escape from municipal officials who come and take away the product,” said Nawal.
Although both the import and sale of firecrackers are banned in the Kingdom they are readily available. “We buy them from Hammam market in Bab Makkah,” one vendor told Arab News.
A visit to the Hammam market established that traders were selling the product without any fear of municipality or Commerce Ministry officials intervening.
“The import of fireworks is banned and I think they are being smuggled into the Kingdom from neighboring countries,” said Abu Rakan, a trader at the market.
According to Abdul Jabbar, an Indian working at a teashop in the market, some big businessmen bring the product from outside and sell them through women, as they are unable to market them through their shops.
Hani Abdullah, a Saudi, who came to the market to buy firecrackers said: “We buy them for every Eid as they have become part and parcel of the celebration and bring happiness to children.”
Saeed Hashim, another fan of firecrackers, wondered why the authorities want to ban them while they are available everywhere. “If they lift the ban the price will go down,” he said, and suggested that the authorities educate the public on how to use them safely instead of simply banning them.
The easy availability and lack of education about the dangers of fireworks and sparklers has spoiled the joy of Eid for many families as children were rushed to hospital emergency rooms during the first two days of the festival.
“Normally we see a lot of cases of burn and hand injuries, eye injuries, head amputations and blinding, every year during Eid,” said Dr. Mohammed Al-Ayadh, a senior doctor at King Fahd Hospital.
He told Arab News that fireworks are dangerous especially when used by children. “It can cause serious injuries to them. Fireworks can be an exciting part of a celebration but they do not know how dangerous these can be when misused,” he said.
Ahmed Al-Omari said his nine-year-old son was injured by a firework on the first day of Eid. “As he was playing with other kids, a firework hit him in his eye and caused him a serious injury which needed an operation.”
Al-Omari appealed to the government to take strong action to ban the selling fireworks. “Children can buy fireworks easily; they are sold everywhere especially on Corniche. No one is stopping them from their illegal trading,” he added.
He said that some shops and groceries violate the regulation and sell fireworks to children to make extra money despite warnings from the municipality.
