Casablanca (ADV) – Authorities in Niger have encouraged people to avoid burning a considerable amount of wood ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Adha (festival of sacrifice), when Muslim families gather to sacrifice sheep.
Eid al-Adha is one of the two Islamic holidays celebrated every year by Muslims, the other being Eid el-Fitr, and is considered as the holiest one. The festival commemorates Abraham’s sacrifice of a sheep; after being sacrificed, the animal is divided into three parts: one is given to the poor and the needy, another is given to relatives, and the third is retained by the family.
Next week, millions of Muslims will be celebrating Eid el-Adha. In Niger’s capital of Niamey, the population is expected to burn about one fifth of the amount of wood normally used within an entire year. The chopping down of trees is linked to desertification, which has had a tremendous impact in Niger over the past few years.
This year, Niger’s authorities expect the sacrifice of about 400,000 sheep in Niamey alone. Almost 50,000 tonnes of firewood will be used to roast them. Col Oumarou Alou, head of the city’s environment agency, encouraged people to use coal instead.
Officials will be stopping trucks, donkeys, and camels, in order to prevent excessive loads of wood in the capital.
Bur-csa – Oumaima Derfoufi – ADV
