MAKKAH: The Makkah Municipality has dismantled more than 15 camel milk enclosures in the north of the city where camel milk was being sold to the public without any health and safety controls.
A special committee set up by the mayoralty to curb the illegal sale of camel milk said the milk was being sold around the clock by foreign workers who would at times let the camels out creating traffic problems and endangering the lives of road users.
Customers, however, called on officials to halt the dismantling and give the camel owners an opportunity to regulate their business.
Officials, however, refused saying the owners had failed to heed repeated orders to relocate to safer locations. “This is a serious phenomenon threatening the lives of people,” the committee said.
Dr. Muhammad Hashim Al-Fawtawi, director of environmental health at the mayoralty, said the committee was undertaking field inspections to prevent camel owners from erecting enclosures haphazardly along the streets.
Members of the public appealed to the mayoralty to grant the camel owners regular permits to sell milk and to conduct medical checks on foreigners who work in the trade, similar to those who work in grocery trade.
Farraj Al-Garhi, who was at the site buying milk, said dismantling enclosures was not a solution as a large number of Makkah residents buy camel milk, which they believe is a cure for diseases.
“We hope the mayoralty would not stand in the way of people and deprive them from their right to drink camel milk,” he said.
“The mayoralty could regularize the sale of milk and also enable camel owners to find better places for their animals to herd while the sale is being conducted,” he added.
