Contrary to expectations, the war and its circumstances were not able to erase the custom of collective breakfasts in Sudan (Al Jazeera)

Omdurman -

Open Ramadan iftars in the streets of cities and neighborhoods were closely linked emotionally to social life in Sudan, and over the years and eras they turned into a deeply rooted social tradition to the extent that it marked the national character of the Sudanese and became a title that distinguishes them among the peoples of the world, and a very important value in their religious and social heritage.

But the ongoing war since last April, and the catastrophic damage it caused to the capital, Khartoum, and its residents, threatened the chances of this social tradition continuing this year.

The idea behind open street iftars is to achieve the values ​​of interdependence, solidarity and equality among people, by sharing the Ramadan table at the time of iftar among the neighbors of the same neighborhood and their potential guests and passers-by.

The common Ramadan table includes all segments of society and its social classes on an equal footing.

The war left hundreds of thousands of Sudanese families in temporary poverty after their property and savings were stolen (Sudanese press)

Secretions of war

Among the tragic transformations of the war waged by the Sudanese army against the Rapid Support Forces is that hundreds of thousands of Sudanese families have been affected by “temporary poverty.”

After armed robbers stole their property and savings and forced them to leave their homes into the unknown.

The war, which is about to complete its first year, paralyzed many vital sectors, threatened the lives of individuals, and caused a massive wave of displacement from Khartoum (more than 7 million people) who were forced to leave their homes to other Sudanese cities, and the population of the capital and its three cities shrank to about 3 million people. .

Those who insisted on staying in Khartoum and refused to leave, lived between the two sides of a dangerous and extremely fragile security situation, disturbed by the sounds of bullets, cannons and mobile battles, and the weight of the crushing economic crisis.

In light of this current reality, it was widely expected that the open Ramadan table would be the first casualty of the war, but that did not happen.

Reducing the impact of war

In the ancient neighborhood of Al-Hatana in Omdurman, Al Jazeera Net monitored the people’s celebration of all the ceremonies associated with the collective iftar from the first day at their known timings, starting with cleaning the place, spreading the carpets, and spraying the area’s surroundings with water, then taking out the food utensils, iced drinks, tea and coffee.

Ramadan tables left homes and took to the streets at their usual time, as if nothing had happened.

As if all the fears, challenges, difficulties, and risks meant nothing, and as if the extreme high prices, the tightness of hand, and the dangers of gathering in an area of ​​active military operations had no effect, in exchange for the Sudanese fulfilling their pledge and declaring their commitment to their most important religious and social traditions during Ramadan.

The aspects associated with communal iftars are the same as what happened in every neighborhood of the city and every year, and they did not differ much.

However, the size and level of the Khartoum table this year, as well as the content and nature of the accompanying Samar people, were hostage to the war and its profound effects.

Combined efforts led to providing the appropriate conditions for reviving this core Sudanese tradition, ensuring its stability, and protecting it from extinction amid the storms of security and economic turmoil resulting from the war.

Food aid centres

Othman Al-Jundi is a young journalist and activist in the field of humanitarian work. After the outbreak of the war, he devoted his efforts to providing food and medical support to the people of the stricken city who insisted on staying there, or who found themselves stuck between the lines of fire without financial resources to help them get out to safer areas.

Al-Jundi told Al-Jazeera Net that the humanitarian support groups devoted their efforts to filling the gaps and enabling the Sudanese to perform their duties in the manner and form that they inherited from their ancestors and lived by throughout their lives, in cooperation with supporters in governmental and private institutions and businessmen.

The dedicated efforts undertaken by Othman and his team, along with other crews, established food aid centers in the three cities of Khartoum have borne fruit, as they have given the residents of the Sudanese capital a complete Ramadan experience despite the harshness of war and the pressures of living.

Naturally, there were differences in size, level, and even in the general mood, but the experience of this exceptional year will remain immortal for many years and a source of renewed inspiration, after the Sudanese turn the page on the war and resume their normal lives.

Source: Al Jazeera