As Muslims marked fifteen days into fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, an organized group of Muslims in Bujumbura arranged and provided food for last year’s flood victims who were left stranded and government relocated them to Maramvya in the outskirts of the Bujumbura.
“During Ramadan, we help those in need by donating food, clothes etc. to show love, kindness and generosity while trying to go closer to Allah,” said Djumba Mutambara a Muslim leader in Maramvya camp for the displaced called Sobel.
According to Mutumbara both Muslims and non-Muslims received the charity from the Muslim group that came to visit the flood victims who were displaced from Gatumba and now relocated to Maramvya.
“67 Muslims’ and around 40 non-Muslim households received each 4 kilograms of rice, 2 kilograms of beans, 2 kilograms of sugar and 1 kg of salt. We want to share today’s iftar together,” said Mutambara.
Iftar is the first meal Muslims take while breaking the fast after the sunset.
“We observe this Ramadan under difficult conditions. These past 15 days, we do not have suhoor (an early meal before the sun rises) because we can’t afford and the only meal we have is the iftar yet we were supposed to eat twice,” said Adidjah Bahebura, one of the Muslim women leader.
Muslims from Sobel are calling for donors to help them with welfare or food in order for them to observe their holy month of Ramadan without any difficulties.
“We would like to ask his Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye to intervene and help us celebrate Eid which is set not more than two week from now,” said one of the displaced Muslims in Maramvya.
Sobel camp which is located in Maramvya hosts more than 1500 families of which 170 of them are Muslim families since May 2020.