An Iftar Among the Rubble: Photos Show the Incredible Strength of Syrian People
Featured image credit: AFP/Getty.
The best aspects of humanity can often emerge from the most awful circumstances. Photos from an enormous iftar in the Syrian town of Douma have been circulating online, and for good reason.
The incredible pics show hundreds of Syrians – many of them children – enjoying a feast at a colourfully-laid table. The table appears to stretch down an entire street, and its vivid layout sits in stark contrast to the surrounding rubble.
Douma, a suburb of Damascus, is currently controlled by the rebel group Jaysh al-Islam. Over the past few years, the town has suffered repeated attacks from the Syrian government. Last month, an aid convoy entered the town for the first time since October 2016.
The iftar was organised by the Adaleh Foundation, a Syrian organisation that was founded in 2012 to provide aid to people in the rebel-held area of Eastern Ghouta. Speaking to the BBC, an official from the humanitarian foundation said: ‘We would have normally been cautious to host such events due to air strikes, but we are taking advantage of the latest de-escalation deal.’
According to the same official, the food was prepared in Eastern Ghouta and brought into Douma. This video shows the incredible efforts and energy of everyone involved with the foundation:
We’re also in awe of the strength and resilience of the Syrians who attended the iftar. We can barely imagine the things they’ve been through. One resident at the meal said that the people present would have previously had iftars ‘hidden in mosques, fearing strikes’.
One Twitter user called the meal an ‘Iftar of heroes’. Others shared photos from the event:
إفطار جماعي في مدينة دوما اليوم
صحتين.. pic.twitter.com/NHFwqmoZWI— موسى العمر (@MousaAlomar) June 18, 2017
The reason we fast for Ramadan is to appreciate the things we do have, and to remember those who are less fortunate. To see these Syrians continue to express the values of their faith, despite living through an ongoing war, demands our utmost respect, and reminds us of how truly blessed we are.
Ramadan has come to an end and Eid al-Fitr is here. Here are some of the things Muslims experience during the celebrations.
We were recently reminiscing about iftars, so we scoured the net for a few examples of famous, unique or noteworthy iftar meals from around the globe.
Photos like these do a lot to tackle misconceptions of Somalia, as they show that despite difficult times, there are always moments of joy in the country.
