Migrants observe Ramadan away from home

Despite the difficult conditions, Muslim migrants living in a state-run camp near Athens began observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan on Monday.

It’s a time when believers abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.

For many including Abdul from Afghanistan, it’s their first Ramadan away from home.

“Everybody is missing his family, his country and this is very hard and so difficult for those people, they’re far away from their country, from their neighbours, from their relatives,” he said.

Syrians stuck near the #Greece-#Macedonia border break their fast for the first time as #migrants during Ramadan pic.twitter.com/cPiNAVGW6M

— Balkan NewsBeat (@BalkanNewsbeat) June 7, 2016

Most of Greece’s migrants have been stranded there after Balkan border closures blocked the migrant corridor to northern Europe.

“This is my first day in this Ramadan. It’s very hard because I start fasting like from four to nine (0400 to 2100). That is too long (a) time and it’s very bad. I wish to see my family again in Syria, or in another country, because I miss them, especially my mother,” said the 24-year-old Abdoulam from Aleppo in Syria.

#Greece #migrants #refugees #pray on 1st day of#Ramadan at the port of #Piraeus AP_Images / PGiannakouris pic.twitter.com/5Ju96Hllic

— Petros Giannakouris (@PGiannakouris) June 6, 2016

But while some families managed to prepare a meal, there were many others who couldnt afford to buy food. For them, hand outs from NGO workers are the only sustenance they have.