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BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhuanet) -- In Syria alone, around 12 million people have been displaced by years of civil war. Nearly two million of them crossed into Turkey.
As Muslims across the world observe the holy month of Ramadan, many of these refugees are finding themselves in a country they do not know, far from family members left behind in the fighting.
It’s early morning on the first day of Ramadan and this little bakery in southern Turkey is preparing traditional Ramadan bread. Many Muslims enjoy it with the meal that breaks their daily fast called Iftar. For many refugees there is no bread this Ramadan, let alone a meal.
This Ramadan, Sidika Mohammed won’t be welcoming guests to a delicious spread of Arabic cuisine. Nor will she share this holiday with her family. Her brother and two of her sons were killed by ISIL militants—all in the last year.
"Is there anything better then to celebrate Ramadan with your children?! Our insides are burning. It’s our first Ramadan here. If we were in Kobane we would have invited our neighbours, but here its different," said Sidika Mohammed, a Syrian refugee.
Sidika and a relative escaped Kobane six months ago when ISIL took over their city. For them, all that remains In Kobane now are the graves of their loved ones.
Larger municipalities are offering free Iftar meals to help make The Holy Month a little easier for those in need. At times, the desperation leads to aggression.
In the Turkish city of Gaziantep, Syrian youth who share a ruined past and uncertain future break their Ramadan fast together.
"Ramadan in Turkey is really nice, but Ramadan in Syria is very different. My parents are facing a lack of food, poverty and life is very difficult," said Marwan Elhabib, another refugee.
That separation is too much for some. At the Akcakale border crossing, hundreds anxiously cross back into Syria, into the unknown, to spend Ramadan with friends and family. But for Sidika, no matter where life takes her, she says Ramadan will never be the same for her again.
Turkey’s open-door policy for displaced Syrians has made it the world’s biggest refugee host. And while Ramadan reminds these refugees of the security Turkey provides, it also proves difficult to truly enjoy the happiness the occasion brings, having been ripped away from their homes and loved ones.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
