CAIRO - Egyptians, who will begin fasting next Wednesday that marks the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, spent LE516 million ($92m) on "Mawa'ed al-Rahman" (Tables of Mercy) in 2009, an economic expert said Thursday. Last year's liquidity crunch did not limit the lavishness of the Tables of Mercy on which the Egyptians spent LE516 million alone, Hamdi Abdel-Azeem told Egypt's official television. Politicians, celebrities, businessmen, community leaders and wealthy professionals compete to set up large and prominent. Abdel-Azeem said that the nation spent more than LE700 per annum on food and the figure soared during Ramadan, where the Egyptians' consumption increases. "Mawa'ed al-Rahman" are charity food tables set out on pavements, jamming many street corners during Ramadan, where the poor, or any passerby for that matter, can break their fast for free. Abdel-Azeem regretted that the Egyptians did not see Ramadan as a chance to exercise austerity in food. "On the contrary, the Egyptians' food consumption doubles during this holy month, in which the faithful should exercise austerity lower their expenditures," Abdel-Azeem said. He added that the belts of the faithful must stay tighter than usual in Ramadan, which is the month of austerity rather an orgy of consumption. Earlier in the week, the Ministry of Social Solidarity has released extra foodstuffs into the market to cope with pre-Ramadan demands. Abdel-Azeem regretted that the Egyptians spent more than LE1 billion to buy yameesh – Ramadan delights–as well as Ramadan lanterns, which are imported from China. This year, however, retailers are reporting food sales sharply down. "For every 10 people buying yameesh last year there are only a couple this year," Hajj Arabi, a manager of a popular supermarket in the Cairo middle-class neighbourhood of Hadayeq el-Qubba, complained. Hajj Arabi said that Ramadan's food treats cost 20 per cent higher than last year.
