Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has called on citizens to refrain from sacrificing sheep during this year’s Eid al-Adha due to a severe drought that has drastically reduced livestock numbers and driven up meat prices.
Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s most significant festivals, is set for June, during which millions of animals are traditionally sacrificed worldwide. However, Morocco is facing its seventh consecutive year of drought, with livestock numbers falling by 38 percent in just 12 months. Rainfall has also been 53 percent lower than the three-decade average, according to the agriculture ministry.
“Our country is facing climatic and economic challenges that have resulted in a substantial decline in livestock,” the king said in a speech delivered by the religious affairs minister on national television Wednesday. While recognizing the religious significance of Eid, he urged Moroccans to forego the sacrifice this year.
The last time a similar appeal was made was in 1966 by King Hassan II, during another prolonged drought. The current crisis has also led to soaring meat prices, exacerbating financial hardship in a country where the minimum wage is approximately €290 per month.
