Dubai, September 13: The recent depressing developments on the job scene here have forced many to send their families home and as things stand it is almost impossible for them to cook or buy meals.
During Ramadan many of the new ‘bachelors’ and the workers laid off due to the depression, depend on the free meals at the Ramadan tents sponsored by charity organisations and mosques in Sharjah and Ajman.
This year the number of people attending the Ramadan tents has increased, more so with the number of unemployed workers suddenly increasing due to the economic downturn.
In Sharjah, Khan Saheb Mosque provides free iftar and the tents put up by the other mosques and Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) are visited by a large number of workers and unemployed people who attend the iftar every day.
Arafah Mohammed, Imam of Khan Saheb Mosque in Al Mussala area said the number of people who attend iftar at their tent has doubled this Ramadan compared to last year.
“Khan Saheb, a wealthy individual, has contracted a restaurant to serve chicken biryani, brain masala and fried chicken along with bread and snacks to more than 1,000 poor and needy people,” he said.
“Free dates, samosas, chaath, pakoras and a special fruity floral drink called Rooh Afza are also being given away to passers-by,” he added.
Every year food parcels are sent to more than 1,000 poor families around Sharjah, but this year the number of bachelors has increased and food is sent to only 500 families.
“Free iftar meals are served outside the main mosque and some of it is provided by other wealthy people,” Mohammed said.
Hassan Al Bagoni, Head of the Media and Public Relations section at Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) which organised an iftar tent at King Faisal Mosque said more than 2,000 comprising the unemployed and the poor working in the Rolla market area, come to the mosque to have their iftar.
The iftar meal is prepared by a restaurant which brings the food to the tent everyday at 5pm to be distributed among the workers.
Al Balgoni said the number of people benefiting from the free iftar had gone up by at least 40 per cent compared to last year.
Awad Al Rahama one of the beneficiaries of the free iftar said, “I don’t go every year to have iftar at these tents because I had my family with me, but, this Ramadan I don’t have job and I’m looking for a marketing job anywhere. Cafeterias also have increased prices that I can’t afford it.
“So, I prefer to go to this tent to have iftar and break the day’s fast with a community meal. I feel very happy during Ramadan because I don’t have to worry about food. Allah bless those who provide iftar for the poor like me.”
In Ajman too, laid off bachelors and workers from the new and old industrial areas as well as the others parts of Ajman flock to the free iftar tents which have been sponsored by wealthy individuals and community associations.
Mohammed bin Zubair an official at Shaikh Zayed Mosque in Ajman said that Ramadan is a month of blessing marked by prayers, fasting and charity, a time to be loving and caring towards any human being regardless of religion.
He added, “The number of people visiting iftar tents had gone up by 20 per cent in Ajman this year, due to the increasing number of bachelors who are seeking employment after they got laid off due to the recession.”
–Agencies