Fireworks safety campaign launched ahead of Eid

Images of children seriously injured by fireworks are released by the police as a senior officer calls for tougher action on their illegal use.

A child injured in a firework accident as part of a campaign to highlight the dangers of playing with fireworks.

ABU DHABI // Images of children seriously injured by fireworks were released by the police yesterday as a senior officer called for tougher action on their illegal use. Lt Col Hameed al Afreet, head of arms and explosives for Abu Dhabi Police, called on the Government to punish those who improperly use fireworks. The call comes after police launched a campaign on Monday to reduce firework accidents, especially among children, during Eid al Fitr celebrations. Advertisements, school visits and community-based communication between the police, parents and religious groups will highlight the risks.

In a statement, Lt Col Afreet said that those who illegally sold and stored fireworks should know of the dangers they posed to themselves and the community. Fireworks stored or transported improperly are hazardous, he said, using the example of the firework blast in March at a warehouse in Al Qouz, Dubai, which killed two people and caused an estimated Dh1 billion (US$272 million) in damage. He asked the public to report any illegal use of firecrackers by calling 999, so the police could confiscate them and question those responsible for providing them.

Teenagers should not use fireworks, he stressed, as he called for strict punishments for those who do. Fireworks smuggled into the UAE are often sold as "games" at grocery stores to attract children, said police. The importance of parental guidance was also stressed as a way of educating children not to play or use fireworks. Lt Col Afreet added that the campaign was already working, with fewer firework accidents reported over the last few days.

Saeed al Qahtani, head of customs inspection in Abu Dhabi airports, said that while some illegal fireworks were smuggled in by boat from other countries, the majority found in the country are produced locally. "The powder that produces these substances is available, and usually gets manufactured at cheap places," he said. He implied that mostly they could get smuggled through the Northern Emirates, as many smugglers pass through from East Asia.