death, destruction and famine overshadow Gaza refugee preparations

The month of Ramadan, sacred to Muslims, must begin with the appearance of the first crescent moon on Sunday or Monday. While hunger is felt heavily in Gaza, refugees in the city of Ramallah, in the West Bank, testify on franceinfo.

Before the war, it was in their apartment in Gaza City that Youssef, his wife and two children spent every Ramadan. Iftars [repas qui est pris chaque soir par les musulmans au coucher du soleil] with family and endless food. This year, the house has been reduced to rubble as the holy month begins on the night of Sunday March 10 to Monday March 11. For the meal to break the fast, there will not even be the bare minimum.

“My daughter asked me for something that we can no longer afford. She asked me if I could buy her some chicken and unfortunately, it’s overpriced,” sighs the father, now exiled with his family in Ramallah, in the West Bank. His daughter also asks him for a doll. His son asks for chocolates and sweets. The two children would also like new clothes to look beautiful for this holy month. “They want all these things, but I just try to make them forget them” he continues.

“How long are we going to stay like this?”

Thursday, March 7, the conflict between Israel and Hamas entered its sixth month and the situation of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip is increasingly deteriorating, due to a lack of humanitarian aid. The prospect of a new truce in the conflict, still under negotiation, is fading. A French teacher also moved from Gaza to Ramallah, Asma is dreading this Ramadan period without her family or neighbors. Just the thought of it is beyond his strength.

“We are not comfortable here because it is not our home. It’s a special month for us, we have prayer, we read the Koran, says the 42-year-old French teacher. Every day, I cry because it’s a little too difficult to spend Ramadan in an environment that is not your environment. It’s not your room, it’s not your life. How long are we going to stay like this?”

How long before the international community puts pressure on Israel, Asma implores. This year, she said, for the holy month of Ramadan, Gazans will only be able to count on their prayers.