Iftar

Suffering continues as Gazans break fast without 'joy of Ramadan'

The first day of Ramadan came and went in Gaza, with residents marking a joyless iftar against a backdrop of famine, disease and displacement as the war in the besieged territory ground on more than five months after it began.

As the Muslim world welcomed the start of the holy month on Monday, Gazans faced continued Israeli bombardments and a spiralling humanitarian crisis.

Muslim holy month Ramadan commences

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on March 11, as the faithful prepared for a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting in which Muslims will refrain from eating or drinking anything.

Many will strictly observe prayers, read the Quran and donate to charity as they seek to draw closer to God. Family and friends will gather for joyful nightly feasts for the next 30 days.

Members of 3 religions gather around ‘Unity Table’

As the feats and fasts of the three religions have coincided in the same month for the first time in the last 36 years, Muslims, Christians and Jews have come together for the "Unity and Brotherhood Table" in the southern quake-hit province of Hatay, the city of civilizations and cultures for centuries.

More containers to arrive, 2.6 mln people in tent cities: Soylu

More than 2.6 million quake survivors are staying in tents, and the number of containers will exceed 100,000 within a month, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has stated.

Minister Soylu had iftar with quake victims in the tent city in Pazarcık district, the epicenter of the first earthquake that struck on Feb. 6.

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