JEDDAH: Firecrackers, which are considered part of the Kingdom’s Ramadan culture, are, for the first time ever, nowhere to be heard or found during this year’s holy month.
“Looking for firecrackers nowadays is like looking for drugs or weapons,” said marketeers, who used to sell firecrackers, the sale of which booms during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr.
None of the usual sellers could be found in Jeddah’s downtown Balad area, where the business thrived. This reporter wandered through the area but was unable to locate a single seller.
Passersby in Balad would normally be approached by sellers offering firecrackers from the trunks of their vehicles or from warehouses close by. “This year, the government has been strict in banning the sale of firecrackers,” said Ahmad, a Yemeni resident, who used to sell firecrackers.
“After selling firecrackers for 10 years, I switched to selling perfumes. The authorities have been very strict,” he said.
He added that the authorities have always raided the premises of those who sell firecrackers. “However, raids were intensified this year and there have been more undercover officers walking around. After seeing many dealers arrested, we stopped selling,” he said.
Some people still sell firecrackers, if caught they will be punished. Ahmad knows a Saudi man in his 30s called Salah, who sells firecrackers for triple the usual price in the Al-Madloum area of the city’s old quarters. “Prices have gone up this year because of a lack of availability. Some of the most common firecrackers available are known as Bush’s Rocket, Sharon’s Bomb, Bin Laden’s Airplane and Saddam’s Destroyer,” said Salah.
He added that these firecrackers used to be sold for SR45 to SR70, and that he now sells them for SR150 to SR250. “Even with the increase in prices, the demand is high. I only sell to those I know,” he said.
The incidents of firecracker-related burns and injuries among children increase during the Ramadan season.
Brig. Misfir Al-Juaid, spokesman for Jeddah Police, said the authorities have intensified their raids according to a plan to eliminate the sale of firecrackers. He said that a special plan was prepared to coincide with Ramadan when the demand for firecrackers is at its highest. Al-Juaid warned people against dealing with firecrackers that could cause harm to children.
