Unemployed Gazans work as "Musaharati" in Ramadan

by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly

Abu Allil and his two former colleagues, who have been unemployed for several months in the Gaza Strip, found a temporary job in the holy Muslim month of Ramadan -- waking people up before dawn for pre-fasting meals.

Every early morning since the beginning of Ramadan on late August, the three young men started their work, wearing unified uniforms of yellow long-sleeve shirts and black trousers.

They roam the streets and alleys of the beach refugee camp of 60,000 population in western Gaza city, breaking the silence by beating the drums and singing traditional Ramadan songs.

Abu Allil is called by the local residents as "al-Musaharati," the man who roams the streets, beats the drum and sings songs during Ramadan to wake people up for their pre-fasting meals, better known as "al-Sahour."

During Ramadan, Muslims usually fast around 15 hours a day. They are allowed to have only two meals: one meal before dawn of their fasting day, namely the pre-fasting meal; the other one in the evening after the sun-set, namely the fast-breaking meal. They should not eat or drink between the two meals.

Abu Allil and his two friends are not the only "Musaharatis" inthe Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. In every neighborhood, refugee camp or village, there are Musaharatis. The local authorities, mainly the department of religious affairs in Gaza, offer them a special permission for the job.

At the end of the month, Abu Allil will knock at people's doors and get his reward.

"Two reasons drove me to this job," said Abu Allil, a father of four children.

"First, I am unemployed, I can earn some money at the end of Ramadan to feed my children. Second, I do this because it is a good thing to wake people up for their pre-fasting meal," he said.

According to figures of international humanitarian organizations, the poverty rate and unemployment rate in Gaza both stand at more than 70 percent, due to a tight Israeli blockade imposed on the impoverished enclave since Hamas seized control of it in June 2007.

"Working as Musaharati does not bring us lots of money, it is temporary and only last for one month, anyway, it is an opportunity to challenge our bitter reality," said Abu Allil, who meets his two colleagues every night outside his humble house in the refugee camp.

The figure of "Musaharati" is not exclusive to the Gaza Strip, but can be seen all over the Arab world as the old tradition lasted for hundreds of years.

Osama al-Easawi, a socialist who is also a teacher of a secondary school in Gaza city, said "Since the economic situation has been deteriorating in Gaza, some people find this job an opportunity to make a living."

Othman Imdoukh, another Musaharati in Gaza, who once owned a sewing factory, said he was compelled to close down his factory three years ago, because he could not get the fabrics from Israel or abroad.

"I do this job only to make a living, though it can not bring a lot of money," he added.