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GAZA-RAMADAN Oct-25-2006 (590 words) With photos posted Oct. 24. xxxi
CRS packages help Gaza Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr
By Judith Sudilovsky
Catholic News Service
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- With the economic and political situation in the Gaza Strip in shambles and the unemployment rate skyrocketing to almost 90 percent, the Islamic month of Ramadan -- the holiest season of the Muslims' calendar -- was difficult for residents such as Nemr Jerad.
Jerad, a 30-year-old father of six, lives with his family in the agricultural district of Al Shoka in Rafah, which borders Egypt. He used to support his family with an average income of $10,000 per year by exporting his crops to Israel and Egypt.
But the constant closing of the border crossings by Israel -- which Israel says is necessary for security -- have left the agricultural sector in Gaza in ruins. The situation has worsened with numerous Israeli incursions following the June 26 killing of two Israeli soldiers and kidnapping of a third by Palestinians who tunneled from Gaza into Israel.
The freezing of international aid, withholding of tax revenues and border closures that impede the movement of goods and people also have had disastrous effects on the lives of Gaza residents. Internal feuding between the Palestinian Hamas and Fatah forces have contributed to the situation.
Although numerous organizations distributed food packages at the beginning of Ramadan to help people break their daily fast, Catholic Relief Services also identified a need for assistance at the end of the holy month, during Eid al-Fitr, said Tom Garofalo, CRS country representative for Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank.
The three-day festival of Eid al-Fitr, which this year began in Gaza Oct. 23, is one of the two most important celebrations for Muslims, and it is customary for people to dress in their finest clothes, visit friends and family, eat sweets and give treats to children.
Using money from a special CRS fund established over the summer to assist with needs in Gaza and Lebanon, CRS was able to assist almost 25,000 people belonging to 3,200 needy families with food packages to help them celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday, Garofalo said. The project was organized and implemented in about a week, he said, with the help of five nongovernmental organizations and the offices of the governors of the five Gaza districts.
"We made sure the packages reached the neediest and those who had not been helped before," said Garofalo. "The need is overwhelming at this point, and it is even more worrisome since there is talk in the newspapers of another (major Israeli offensive.)"
The CRS packages included corn oil, tea, sugar, canned beef and fish, rice, white beans, macaroni, cheese, sweet dates, jam and "halawah," a sesame sweet, he said.
"This is the holiest part of the year and there is the obligation to visit one another, give gifts and have people over for meals," said Garofalo. "We wanted to help them out economically while also helping them enjoy the holiday."
During the Oct. 19 distribution, many families who were not on the list came asking for packages as well, according to CRS international development officer Burcu Munyas, who monitored the distribution in Rafah along with Gaza Field Manager Omar Shaban. CRS officials were able to help some of the people with extra packages they had, but many others had to be turned away, she said.
She said Jerad arrived at the distribution point late in the day, because an Israeli incursion near his home had prevented him from falling asleep until the early hours of the morning.
END
Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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