Some traders are still selling banned fireworks at markets in Asir despite warnings by the Civil Defense of the dangers of these products.

Arab News has discovered that some people are selling these products to children at shops and shopping centers here, in an attempt to exploit the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr celebrations.

Saeed Al-Ghawa, a citizen, told Arab News recently that he saw many people selling fireworks at local shops and believes that these illegal traders want to make money from the Eid holidays.

“The authorities must put a stop to the sale of these items for the safety of our children. Such items threaten the lives of our citizens and their children,” said Al-Ghawa.

Col. Muhammed Al-Asemi, spokesman of the Civil Defense in Asir, said the organization has issued several public warnings about the dangers of fireworks. He urged citizens and residents not to buy any of these products for their children.

“Ahead of Eid Al-Fitr festivities, there has been an increase in the sale and purchase of hazardous fireworks. This poses a real threat to the safety of users, who are mainly children. They can burn and injure their bodies,” said Al-Asemi.

He said that parents must pay close attention to the products that their children play with. The governorate has established special locations for the Eid celebrations and taken special safety measures in the public interest, he said.

Al-Asemi said the Civil Defense has conducted several awareness campaigns to warn citizens about the dangers of fireworks, particularly in light of the increasing volume of these products currently being sold in the region.

He said security agencies have been taking action by confiscating these products from people selling them on the streets. “We have noticed that the majority of those selling them are young men who run away as soon as the police arrive,” he said.

Merayi' Al-Qahtani, a consultant cosmetic surgeon at Asir Central Hospital, said that these products can cause debilitating injuries.

“These toys can explode in a child’s face. We have dealt with many emergency cases at the hospital where children have lost their hands and legs,” he said.