Hundreds of starved camels die on border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia

MENA

Published: 2017-07-13 11:13

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 05:27


Hundreds of starved camels die on border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia
Hundreds of starved camels die on border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia

Hundreds of camels died of thirst and starvation after being forced out of Saudi Arabia during the country’s political row with Qatar.

Fifteen thousand camels were ordered to trek back to Qatar. Those stuck at the border between the two countries were left to die by their owners, who were given just one hour to leave their farms.

Qatari camel owner, Hussein Al-Marri, said: "I have returned from Saudi Arabia. I myself saw more than 100 dead camels on the road as well as hundreds of lost camels and sheep."

Another farmer, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I lost 50 heads of sheep and five camels and there are 10 missing. I do not know anything about them.”

There are still 150,000 Qatari camels in Saudi Arabia; their fate remains unclear.

The tiny Gulf state uses its neighbour to graze the animals because there is insufficient space to contain them in the 4400-sq.-miles-big country.

While Qatar invited all Gulf citizens to stay during the ongoing row, Saudi Arabia ordered all Qatari nationals to leave the Kingdom within 14 days.

Several Gulf, Arab and international states cut ties with Qatar after accusing it of “supporting and funding terrorism.”