Desert clean-up to continue this week

The Municipality sponsored desert clean-up campaign will continue until Saturday and will include various activities for participants, organisers said. "The response has been excellent. The activities during the campaign will be focused on spreading awareness on the need to preserve the desert along with the clean-up," said Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, while inaugurating the ten-day campaign at Al Warqa last week. While students from the Dubai Club for Special Sports came up with paintings and sketches spreading the message of environmental awareness, a drama My Sweaty Environment was presented by students of Salma Al Ansari School in Satwa. Camels and horses, with banners carrying the message to keep the desert clean, were also used during the clean-up. Everyone welcome After the inaugural session the volunteers, employees from private organsiations and Dubai Municipality, along with students, started the clean-up drive in the area. Promotional gifts were also given to those involved. Abdul Majeed Saifaie, Director of the Waste Management Department, said that the desert received a very high number of visitors, especially during the spring season. "We want to tell people to keep the place clean even after they leave so that others can use it. Through this campaign we will generate awareness on this. We are involving students, employees, volunteers and everyone is welcome to join in." Last year, 5,400 volunteers participated in the campaign and collected 266 tonnes of waste, which included plastic waste (1.5 tonnes), construction material, tyres, and general waste. The clean-up will cover desert areas in Al Warqa, Al Hibab, Al Thaye, Al Aweer, and Al Amadi. Schedule -    February 5: Awareness and cleaning programme, Dubai Al Aweer Road and Al Hibab Road from 8am to 4pm -    February 6 to February 11: Various desert locations in Dubai. Activities to include tourist tent visits and desert safari from 10am to 2pm -    Call Dubai Municipality on 800900 for further details.