Temporary shelters, water and food have been set up for 7,000 camels and
5,000 sheep forced to trek back to the kingdom across the desert border, Qatari
newspaper The Peninsula reported on Tuesday, while website al-Raya put the
figure at 25,000.
The ministry of municipality and environment said that more permanent
accommodation was being prepared.
Qatar is home to around 22,000 camels, which are raised for racing as well as
meat and milk, but many herdsmen in the tiny kingdom rent pastures in much
larger neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
The latest move from Riyadh has triggered angry reaction among Qatari farmers.
The farmers are the latest victims in the escalating spat, which began 5 June
when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut all diplomatic ties and
suspended air and sea links with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorism and
controversial political groups. The decision has since been adopted by several
other Muslim nations.
Qatar vehemently denies the charges. Tentative reconciliation efforts led by
delegations from Kuwait, as well as encouragement from Turkey, the US State
Department and UN, have so far come to nothing.
Qatari citizens were given two weeks to leave the affected countries, turning
the lives of thousands of families upside down, and almost all Qatar Airways
flights are now facing lengthy diversions.
Inside the country, which imports 80 per cent of its food, panic over food and
fuel shortages have led to empty supermarket shelves and stockpiling.
Iran, a secondary target of the diplomatic stand-off, began cargo flights of up
to 100 tonnes of fruit and vegetables a day to Doha on Sunday.
SOURCE : ALALAM