Exceptional Activity and Heavy Crowds at the Ourika Market
As Eid al-Adha approaches, the weekly “Monday Ourika” market in Al Haouz Province is witnessing unprecedented commercial activity and massive crowds of shoppers arriving from surrounding villages and neighboring areas to purchase sacrificial livestock and Eid-related supplies. The market is experiencing intense demand alongside a significant increase in commercial transactions.
In response to this exceptional activity, local authorities and security services launched a large-scale mobilization effort from the early hours of the morning to organize the market and ensure that the religious occasion takes place under safe and orderly conditions.
Security Mobilization and Field Inspection Committees
In this context, various security agencies in Ourika, including the Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces, and local authority officers, along with a special committee التابعة to the economic department of Tahannaout Province, were deployed to implement a series of regulatory and monitoring measures inside the livestock market.
These actions aim to reduce the chaos and disorder that usually accompany the period leading up to Eid al-Adha, while ensuring proper organization of sales operations, regulating livestock movement, and enforcing compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Strict Measures Against Speculation and to Ensure Livestock Safety
These efforts come in line with strict directives issued by the Ministry of Interior to local authorities and territorial administrations, emphasizing the need to monitor livestock health conditions and combat all forms of speculation and illegal brokerage in order to maintain price stability and guarantee the safety and quality of sacrificial animals offered for sale.
Specialized committees are also monitoring the health status of livestock, especially following the increasing complaints raised by citizens in recent years regarding the quality of sacrificial animals and the conditions under which they are displayed and sold.
Record Prices Weigh Heavily on Citizens
Despite these regulatory and monitoring measures, livestock prices have reached unprecedented record levels in recent days, particularly for the highly demanded “Sardi” breed. The sharp increase has sparked frustration among many families struggling with the rising costs of purchasing Eid sacrifices.
Observers indicate that continued speculation, coupled with higher feed and transportation costs, has directly contributed to the price surge, further impacting citizens’ purchasing power.
Traffic Management and Congestion Relief
Regarding traffic management, local authorities in Ourika, in coordination with the Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces, and local administrative officers, implemented special measures to regulate vehicle movement at the various entrances and exits of the market, particularly around the “New Bridge” section, which experiences significant congestion during weekly market days.
Additional preventive measures were introduced to avoid traffic jams and ensure smoother circulation for both vehicles and visitors around the market area.
Strict Penalties for Violators
Inspection campaigns also focused on monitoring livestock sales operations and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards. Authorities warned that financial penalties and strict administrative measures would be imposed on violators and vendors operating outside the legal framework.
Officials believe that these measures will contribute to creating a more organized and transparent market environment while protecting consumers and ensuring proper health and safety conditions during the Eid al-Adha period.
