Syrian refugees in Egypt suffer soar of prices

Translation by Rana Abdul

(Zaman al-Wasl)- Syrian refugees in Egypt brought with them Ramadan traditions and rituals of food and water as well as in spiritual rites.

In 6 October City near Cairo the persons calling for Sahour do it the way Damascene used to do and other Syrian cities. The markets are crowded with Ramadan drinks and sweets. 

Shop windows are decorated with lights and lanterns to celebrate this holy month. The big and small mosques get crowded during the prayers especially at the Tarawih prayer just like it is in Syria.

Human rights advocate Firas Haj Yahya pointed out the Egyptian used to make food banquets calling them al-Rahman banquets.

 The banquets are set in tents paid for by good people and traders even Egyptian army contributed to these banquets doing Iftar banquets for all people fasting during Ramadan for the poor and homeless. Recently, Syrian refugees started coming to these banquets, too.

Firas referred to the collective Iftar banquets established by Syria al-Ghad, the relief organization, in four areas in Big Cairo province and in October and al-Aboor as well as in al-Zamalek. Each banquet has a capacity of receiving more than 400 persons both Syrians and Egyptians.

Few days ago, a collective Iftar was established and received more than 100 Syrian families in Shabab al-Jazira sport club in al-Zamalek in Cairo.

 The celebration included entertainments, competitions, and presents for the attendees. Also, Inshad religious group Anwar al-Huda from Damascus led by Faiz al-Hilou sang for the crowd.

According to Firas, the charity work is not limited to Ramadan banquets, but the organizations offer food baskets as well.

Yahiya confirmed Hamza al-Khatib Orphanage offered few days ago food baskets for registered orphans at the organization and many individuals took the initiative to distribute food baskets on families I need and refugee families.

He added the Syrian refugees suffer difficult conditions during Ramadan like the Egyptians due to prices increase and depreciated value of the Egyptian pound in front of the American dollar.

The registered Syrian refugees at UNHCR is estimated to be 12000 and the total number of Syrians in Egypt is nearly 25000 according to Yahya.

The number of Syrians on financial assistance from UNHCR is about 31000 and the assistance is between 400 and 1400 Egyptian pound according to the number of the individuals in the family.

Yahya concluded that the Egyptian people sympathy with Syrians and their cause contributed to their success. Egypt has provided a convenient environment to integrate Syrians which facilitated flourish of businesses like shops and restaurants where most of the costumers are Egyptians.