With the start of Ramadan - the Islamic holy month characterized by
fasting - residents of Mogadishu are facing a difficult economic
situation as well as the prospect of more fighting and shelling, say
civil society sources. Pictured: Omar Ramadhan, left, sells snacks to muslims outside a mosque. The snacks are usually taken by the muslim faithful during the marking of the holy month of Ramadhan.
"The economic situation in which most residents find themselves is appalling," a civil society activist, who requested anonymity, told IRIN on 12 August. "Many cannot afford to buy the basic necessities, but the biggest factor this Ramadan is fear as it has become normal practice for the warring parties to increase fighting during Ramadan."
The upsurge in fighting between government troops and Islamist insurgents makes it "nearly impossible for most people to go out", he said, adding that most of those affected were people who could cope the least. "These are the daily labourers, the women who have to clean homes or businesses or the men doing odd jobs."
He said the prices of basic foods had gone up by 30 percent since last week and may rise even more.
He appealed to Somalis in the diaspora to increase their support this month: "If you were supporting one family, add one more this month. They have no one else."
Already, he said, the fighting had rendered many areas of the city inaccessible to those who could help affected families.
Source: IRIN (via AllAfrica.com)
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