Fear of Covid-19 grips Sudanese, shun Ramadan festivities

The order for social distancing and lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic has affected lots of festivities and rituals that usually characterise the holy month of Ramadan in Sudan.

Normally, Ramadan means social gatherings, breaking the fast at the sunset or iftar-breaking fast – together, packed mosques for late-night prayers and festive dining till early in the morning and the onset of Ramadan is exhaustive shopping and reading the Holy Quran in groups and revive social contacts with families and friends.

However, many Sudanese believe they are witnessing an unfamiliar Ramadan.

Ahmed Hassan, 59, who lives with his wife and four kids said that the pandemic has only negatively impacted the lifestyles of Sudanese during 2020 Ramadan.

“We were used to sit outside at the iftar time, with all our neighbors, extended family members, and friends together,” he said

“It used to be the only month that we got time to relax from the materialistic life and enjoy the spirit of Ramadan,” he added.

His wife Awatif Abdul Hamid, 43 also said the custom-like going together to markets and preparing special Sudanese cuisine and drinks during Ramadan seems a thing of the past.

“We used to cook together special Sudanese traditional food like (Aseeda) and the drinks like (Hilumore). We are missing this because of the virus. We hope better times will come soon,” she said.

A business man said, “We used to distribute food, clothes, and other material. But this year we are afraid that the distribution point may become dangerous points as a large number of people may gather.”

He said to circumvent the pandemic, businessmen in the country had decided to cooperate with big organizations to donate online.

“The organizations and the Social Development Ministry will distribute it, using their resources,” he added.

The Minister of Labor and Social Development, Lina Alshiekh, said her work has doubled this year for helping daily wage laborers and distributing charity among poor.

“Our work is doubled as we have to collect the charity and distribute it, instead of the people coming to take it. It is hard times for the poor who cannot go for work,” she stated.