Meat for Mecca: Somaliland Exports Livestock for the Hajj

Meat for Mecca: Somaliland Exports Livestock¹ for the Hajj

BERBERA, SOMALILAND — 

Every year, the breakaway republic of Somaliland, in east Africa, exports millions of livestock to Saudi Arabia to feed the millions of Muslim faithful making the pilgrimage to Mecca.

From the hinterlands to the Somaliland capital, Hargeisa, millions of sheep and goats are on the move in the small Horn of Africa republic.

The animals are en route to Saudi Arabia for use as sacrificial offerings for millions of Muslims making the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca known as the Hajj.

The livestock trade to the Middle East accounts for 60 percent of Somaliland's gross domestic product and 70 percent of its jobs.

Some Muslims consider the black-headed sheep to have religious significance relating to the prophet Abraham.

Mowlid Hassan Jama has worked at Hargeisa's livestock market for ten years.

He said he earns his livelihood² from this livestock and that he feels he is supporting the Islamic community in having a good Hajj festival.

Once sold in the markets, the animals are trucked to the Red Sea port of Berbera, where they wait in quarantine for weeks receiving blood tests and vaccinations³.

Past accusations⁴ of disease among Somaliland livestock led Saudi Arabia to temporarily ban imports of Somaliland animals.

Government veterinarian Ali Mahamud Gulled⁵ said the Berbera quarantine holds over a million animals at the height of the Hajj.

"It's very, very important we guarantee that no disease is carried and infected to the imported country ... because then that will affect us economically, drastically. It could result in a ban of our livestock, so we make sure that each and every animal leaving here is free of diseases," said Gulled.

After quarantine, the sheep and goats load onto ships holding between 20,000 and 120,000 animals. The animals are often loaded at night when the air is cooler.

Somaliland now faces competition from Sudan, Australia, and other countries who also export livestock to the Hajj.

Abdi Osman Haji, a researcher with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, which supports the livestock sector⁶, said Somaliland must modernize⁷ its industry to stay ahead.

"The market facilities are very dilapidated and they are not up to date ... I am sure Somaliland cannot maintain its current position if we don't improve the whole export value chain," said Haji.

Haji said Somaliland lags behind in terms of treatment of the animals too.

"Animal welfare is not on the agenda here and that has to be introduced. Animals, when they are deported⁸ via ships and via trucks, they are not according to international standards. They should comply [with] animal welfare conditions," said Haji.

Even so, the annual export of animals from Somaliland to Saudi Arabia remains⁹ vital for both countries.

1 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

2 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

3 vaccinations   

n.种痘，接种( vaccination的名词复数 )；牛痘疤

参考例句：

• Vaccinations ensure one against diseases. 接种疫苗可以预防疾病。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I read some publicity about vaccinations while waiting my turn at the doctor's. 在医生那儿候诊时，我读了一些关于接种疫苗的宣传。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

5 gulled   

v.欺骗某人( gull的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Such promises, said Apacides sullenly, are the tricks by which man is ever gulled. 阿帕奥得斯板着脸说：这种诺言是骗人的诡计。 来自辞典例句
• The man gulled the traveler out of every penny he had with him. 那人把那游客骗得身无分文。 来自辞典例句

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

8 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。