As the cold snap spread across Egypt, the people of North Sinai began to cope with the cold differently than those in the Nile valley as blankets and resting indoors were sometimes not in their grasp.
As many of the people in North Sinai are either nomadic or homeless, burning firewood is key to staying warm instead of using modern heaters. Some cut trees from their own farms, while those who do not own farms were keen to buy wood enough for a month.
While sitting next to fire, the people of North Sinai burn different kinds of wood, with the price depending on the type of tree. There are three types of firewood: olive trees, juniper trees and Agram trees.
The price of wood in a loaded pickup truck ranges from LE250 to LE500 which can cover two months.
Heating with firewood has rules enacted by the people of Sinai who prevent the cutting of green trees, and consider it an offense that requires fines. They also incriminate cutting timber in the territory of other tribes.
Olive trees are spread throughout the north and the people often uproot old olive trees due to its low productivity, which are then sold as firewood.
Firewood dealers rent a lauder to uproot trees and then cut them into parts. They sell the green parts to grazers, branches are used by Bedouins in construction and larger parts are sold as firewood.
Olive firewood is considered the best as it lasts longer than other types.
Juniper and Agram trees are found in central Sinai and the valleys of the south. Bedouins do not cut them unless they are dry and they are usually cheaper than olive trees.
