Eastern Ghouta suburbs celebrate holy Eid as siege, shelling continue

Reporting by Omar Al Dimashqi; Writing by Yusra Ahmed

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Eastern Ghouta is getting ready to welcome Eid al-Adha, amid severely hard living conditions, such poverty, fighting and displacement.

It is the fourth Eid visits the Syrian after the Syrian revolution, despite all difficult circumstances, they still trying to steal some moments of happiness and peace despite battles and shelling.

During Zaman al-Wasl’s visit to Eastern Ghouta to see Eid activities, the sound of shelling and shooting was clear. The popular markets almost empty because people were scared of mortar shelling, despite that, many swings and slides were installed waiting for children to come and play in Eid.

Amir Mousa, an activist, express his worries from frequent shelling which could kill many civilians, turning their Eid into mourning.

The activist drew Zaman al-Wasl's attention to fact that rates of poverty and homelessness have become around 75% of people.

“The recent Eid’s conditions are the worst in four years, with huge retraction in selling and buying of Eid’s requirement like sweet and children’s clothes and toys by 40% in four years” the activist detailed.

He added that despite all those difficult circumstances, still few shoppers can be seen, trying to celebrate the Eid atmosphere and buy sweets and clothes to their children.

On the other hand, Abo Omar, an activist works in the aid and relief in al-Ghouta, said that most people in the area cannot afford to celebrate Eid, because of difficult and hard economical conditions and extremely high prices.

“In fact Shoppers are too little, and the real trade activites are weak, most people buy second-hand clothes because they cheaper than new ones, however toys have become sort of dream to get one” Abo Omar reported.

The activist expressed his desperation about the difficulties facing aid and relief work, because helping families in need either by giving them clothes or some money or food, could risk the helpers to be listed as terrorists by Syrian regime.

In regard to displaced people , Abo omar said: ‘despite many charity societies work on helping displaced people from hot areas, however thousands of families still in urgent need for help especially during Eid.

Abo Mohammed, a father of five, was displaced from al-Mleha, described his suffering: “because I am jobless, I have to request some support from humanitarian agencies to feed my family, and ask for clothes to my children from second-hand shops, hoping to bring my kids some happiness”

Even middle class families’ lives and spending have been affected by the economical situation, as their priorities have changed during Eid. “I used to spend Eid in Lebanon, however, now I cannot do that because I cannot afford it” Hosam said.

He mentioned that some families used to spend Eid holidays on coast, however, regime’s barriers which devided Syria and the high cost of travelling, stopped them from doing that.

Zaman Al Wasl