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November
6, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 19Oakland,
CA
CRS packages
help Gaza Muslims with
Eid al-Fitr feast
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, one of the two most important celebrations for Muslims. 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.
The project was organized and implemented in about a week.
