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Firecrackers available online, say teenagers

Sharjah / Ajman - Officials say no untoward incident related to firecrackers reported during Eid Al Fitr

Firecrackers were available online and even delivered secretly at door steps during Eid, teenagers from Sharjah and Ajman told Khaleej Times.
Residents of both the emirates added they had seen a number of children lighting crackers and sparklers on the streets during Eid. They also alleged some parents allowed their children to 'play with fire' at their houses.
Meanwhile, officials from both the emirates said the efforts to curb the illegal sale and use of firecrackers had paid off well. They also sought cooperation from parents to curb the practice of using firecrackers during celebrations.
A teenager residing in Ajman said: "There are people who sell fire crackers through WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms. Using our parents' credit cards we bought crackers during Eid Al Fitr and traders delivered them secretly to our house."
Another teenager, Omar K, 16, said: "As my friends said firecrackers are difficult to get in Sharjah and Ajman, I forced my dad to take us to other emirate. We met there some guys who went to an old house and brought us firecrackers, some very expensive and some cheap."
Mohammed Ahmed, a parent, said: "The children insisted to play with firecrackers and so I allowed them to use under my supervision."
"Eid is an occasion for family get together and children meet their friends and relatives. I don't see any harm in my children using a few harmless crackers to express their happiness on such occasions," Mona Al Shamsi, resident of Al Qarayen, Sharjah, said.
Call for support
Colonel Mohammed Rashid Al Bayat, head of Operations at the Sharjah Police, said: "The issue will not disappear completely without the support of parents, even though no incidents of injuries were reported this year."
"We have been carrying out awareness campaigns, which have yielded positive results. The police also visited schools to deliver awareness lectures about the dangers associated with firecrackers," added Col Al Bayat.
Colonel Abdullah Saif Al Matroushi, head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Ajman Police, urged the school authorities to educate children about the harmful consequences of firecrackers.
Yahya Al Reyaysa, director-general of Ajman municipality, said that shops and groceries are banned from selling firecrackers, and so the importing them from other places into the emirate.
Al Reyaysa said shops and groceries wviolate rules and sell firecrackers to children to earn extra cash, risking hefty fine and temporary closure of the outlet. He believes that firecrackers are brought into the area in large quantities from outside and sold illegally in homes.
As per the existing law, no one can be penalised for lighting the firecrackers but can be held responsible for causing noise pollution, if community members lodge a complain with the police, Rashid, Jaber, legal advisor, said.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com