{"id":14043,"date":"2021-04-07T07:17:13","date_gmt":"2021-04-07T07:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ndarason.com\/?p=14043"},"modified":"2021-04-07T07:17:13","modified_gmt":"2021-04-07T07:17:13","slug":"residents-will-have-to-rely-on-charity-to-get-through-the-holy-month-of-ramadan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/residents-will-have-to-rely-on-charity-to-get-through-the-holy-month-of-ramadan\/","title":{"rendered":"Residents will have to rely on charity to get through the holy month of Ramadan"},"content":{"rendered":"

COVID-19, blackouts, poverty, the hike in the price of food and an increase in the number of attacks by insurgents have left Maiduguri residents and internally displaced persons concerned about not being able to prepare properly for the holy month of Ramadan, which begins on April 13.<\/p>\n

Massa Abbagana, an internally displaced person in Stadium Camp, said: \u201cWe are under the control of the government and non-governmental organisations. We have nothing. We rely purely on charity to get by.\u201d<\/p>\n

He hoped the residents of the camp would get \u201cpalatable\u201d food to eat for the times when they could break the fast \u2013 from sunset to dawn.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we get food it will be all thanks to Allah but if we don\u2019t we will have to drink water. What we get will be what we use,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Aisha Usman, a Maiduguri resident, said this was the first year of Ramadan fasting for which she had been unable to prepare.<\/p>\n

She said the COVID-19 pandemic \u2013 which led to bulk buying \u2013 and the lockdowns had caused a lot of suffering in the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings worsened because of poverty, blackouts and the high price of food,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Muslim Ummah traditionally prepare for what they will need during Ramadan. Essential items include pap powder, millet and other nutritious foods.<\/p>\n

\u201cA week before the holy month and I do not have anything. I think we are going to suffer badly during Ramadan this year,\u201d Usman said.<\/p>\n

Another resident, Hajja Aisa Leje, urged women to be tolerant and patient with their spouses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe high prices of food have made it difficult for the men. It is expensive for them to buy food and those that sell foodstuff are struggling, too, because people can\u2019t afford to buy what they need. Things are not easy for our men these days,\u201d Aisa said.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, the government, non-governmental organisations and wealthy individuals had provided help \u2013 such as food and money \u2013 to the less privileged and the poorest of the poor.<\/p>\n

Internally displaced persons and residents hoped the same would happen this year.<\/p>\n