For millions of Muslims across the world celebrating the holy month of Ramadan in the comfort of home alongside their families, it is time to strengthen bonds of solidarity with Palestinians and Iraqis Smuggled lanterns Saleh Al-Naami describes how besieged Gaza struggles to survive the holy month Seated patiently behind his desk, with a line of women applicants spilling out of his office into the hallway, Tareq Qandil, 35, is taking down names and handing out food. He heads a branch of the Islamic Rectitude Society in Al-Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza, and his society is giving away thousands of food parcels to poor families in an area where at least 20,000 people struggle to survive. Each family gets a cash handout and several food parcels during the month of Ramadan. But this year the society is working harder than usual. "Because more families have fallen under the line of poverty due to the siege, we will double the number of parcels we distribute. Many people are unemployed and thus depend on charity for survival," Qandil told Al-Ahram Weekly. Societies similar to Qandil's have sprouted around Gaza to supplement the efforts of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is also helping thousands of indigent families. Meanwhile, the stranded government of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh is also doing what it can. Social Affairs Minister in the Hamas government Ahmed Al-Kurd says his ministry is providing financial assistance to over 20,000 families in Gaza. "We understand the grave ramifications of the blockade on our people in Gaza, and the government is doing all it can to make life easier for them," Al-Kurd told the Weekly. His ministry is coordinating its relief work with charity organisations, whose efforts are indispensable in a place where basic supplies, if available, are prohibitively expensive. Just to illustrate levels of poverty, Al-Zawiya market in Gaza is crowded on the first day of Ramadan, but shoppers say that most of the goods are beyond their reach. Marwan Sawi, a government employee, complains about the price of Gouda cheese, which his three daughters love to have for their pre-dawn meal, or Sohour . After much deliberation, he decided to buy a piece for his girls. But his salary of 1,500 shekels ($380) is barely enough to cover his monthly expenses. In Ramadan, he will need to borrow, he says. Khalil Zahir, a shopkeeper, says that the purchasing power of the Gazan population has dropped steadily over the past two years. But this month is perhaps the hardest so far, he notes. With the borders in and out of Gaza closed, it is difficult to imagine the situation improving. Ramzi Hayyen, another shopkeeper, says that despite the truce Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) still keep the border crossings closed, thus ensuring that the shortages continue. "Because the border crossings are closed, Palestinians have to rely on the merchandise being smuggled through the tunnels. This merchandise tends to be expensive because of the methods and individuals involved. Goods smuggled from Egypt used to be much cheaper than goods coming through the border crossings with Israel. But now both are expensive, simply because there is nothing else in the market," said Hayyen. Meanwhile, Maged Ibrahim is shopping for Ramadan lanterns for his three boys. When the shopkeeper tells him that each lantern costs 20 shekels ($5.5), he talks the boys into buying something else. The lantern merchant admits that the prices of lanterns are too high. The reason for this is that the lanterns were smuggled through the tunnels. As for the cost of food, mosques are set to provide free Iftar (sunset meals) to the neediest families. Ahmed Abu Mosameh, 25, imam of Al-Ansar Mosque in Al-Maghazi camp, has been in touch with donors and restaurant owners, and has already arranged for meals for 30 families. Things were, at one point, expected to be even worse. Israel was rumoured to be about to cut off gas supplies to Gaza, so a shortage of gas bottles was expected. To the relief of many, gas supplies continued. Alaa Zeyada, 27, has just filled his gas bottle from a nearby supply station. He is walking back home in Berkat Al-Wezz, carrying the heavy bottle on his back, sweating. But he is pleased to have found gas in the market. Now his five-member family will be able to have cooked meals for the rest of the month. "No one wants to live on canned food in Ramadan," he told the Weekly. Meanwhile, the effects of the temporary ceasefire are being felt. Families living close to the demarcation lines with Israel have been spared the usual incursions. In past years, many men had to sleep away from home in Ramadan, for fear of being harassed by the IOF. Yehia Al-Hakjuri, an inhabitant of Al-Qarara, a village situated close to the demarcation lines, says that this is the first Ramadan in four years he gets to spend at home. "What a pleasure to be able to take my three sons to the local mosque for the late night prayers of taraweeh or to spend time with friends on the hills, surrounded by vine trees and orchards." In earlier years, his wife used to send him his Iftar to eat out of the house. Although he is not a member of any resistance group, he never felt safe at home.
