Impoverished Gazans struggle to celebrate Eid

It is one of the biggest holidays in the Muslim calendar, but for Palestinians in the impoverished Gaza Strip, the

The impact of the siege has been devastating

Islamic charities in Gaza distribute free food in bid to reduce impact of Israeli siege during Eid.

By Adel Zaanoun - GAZA CITY

Eid al-Adha festival is a time for tough choices.

Ibtisaam Ghourabi, 40, knew she could not afford the new clothes and syrupy sweets that families buy for the four-day holiday, which began Tuesday.

She decided to sell some of her gold wedding jewellery so she could buy her seven children a little holiday cheer -- without telling her unemployed husband, Mohammed.

"I promised my children that this year I would buy them Eid clothes like everybody else gets. It's their right to celebrate like other people," she said.

Ghourabi struggled to hold back tears as she described the dire economic straits in which her family finds itself.

"My husband used to work in construction and the income was excellent, but there's no work for him now because the building has all stopped, and we've spent all the money we saved," she said.

Construction virtually ground to a halt after Israel imposed a blockade on the territory in June 2006 following the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a dawn cross-border raid by Gaza-based militants.

The restrictions were further tightened a year later, when Hamas seized power in the coastal enclave, ousting its moderate rivals Fatah.

The impact on Gaza, which was already mired in poverty, has been devastating. Most residents are now dependent on international aid, said Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

"Eighty percent of the population are reliant on the humanitarian aid that UNRWA provides. We offer more than 800,000 Palestinians regular assistance," he said.

The blockade has been eased in recent months, after an uproar over a bloody Israeli raid on a flotilla of aid ships headed for Gaza that left nine Turkish activists dead.

But unemployment in the enclave remains around 50 percent, and Abu Hasna said construction work was still on hold.

"It's the most important economic sector and it remains virtually paralysed," he said.

In the crowded alleys of Gaza City's market, shoppers make their way past stalls, assaulted by the cries of merchants eager to make a sale.

Mona Seesi said she was doing her best to enjoy the holiday despite all the troubles and frustrations of life in Gaza.

Unlike many of her fellow Gazans, the 33-year-old teacher works at a school funded by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority and can still count on a salary.

"I bought the children all the necessary clothes, shoes and some Eid chocolates," she said. "It's the least we can do."

Amjad al-Uthman, who owns a children's clothes shop, said sales had been disappointing.

"There are plenty of customers, but most ask the price and don't buy anything," he said. "The economic situation is terrible. People have no cash in hand and they have enormous financial commitments."

Despite the malaise, customers were still flocking to a shop selling the syrupy pastries and sweets that form a key part of the Eid celebration meal.

But sales of sheep and cows, the animals Muslims traditionally slaughter for the feast, were down.

Abu Hisham, a livestock trader in the southern city of Khan Yunis, said he had sold only 10 sheep on the Thursday and Friday before the holiday -- far fewer than usual.

For most families, a sheep or cow is simply beyond reach. A sheep costs around 1,600 shekels (440 dollars, 320 euros), while a cow costs some 12,000 shekels (3,266 dollars, 2,400 euros), dealers said.

But thousands of lucky families will still get meat on their plates, thanks to the efforts of Islamic charities in Gaza, which will be distributing food free of charge.