“Benghazi is still full of life,” said seventy-year-old Masoud. “This city is waiting for Ramadan despite all of its suffering. Its streets are full of life. Most of its neighborhoods are full of vibrancy. Even banks, some public sectors and schools resumed their activity without fear.”

“Benghazi is still full of life,” said seventy-year-old Masoud. “This city is waiting for Ramadan despite all of its suffering. Its streets are full of life. Most of its neighborhoods are full of vibrancy. Even banks, some public sectors and schools resumed their activity without fear.”

Despite the continuous battles that have rocked Benghazi for more than six years, the last few weeks witnessed clear progress for the army as it reclaimed control over many areas, like Buatani, that were combed by the Military Engineering Department and then cleared by the General Services to receive their residents – in time for Ramadan.  

A resident of Abdulmonein Riyadh Street, also known as Al-Izaa Street, said he and his family returned to their home after the armed forces permitted them stressing that the security situation is good except for the noise of shelling at night.

Returning home with some risks is far better than staying at relatives’ homes and moving from one place to another due, he says, pointing out that wherever he goes, it is overflowing with other displaced people.

Displaced during Ramadan

Ramadan this year, says Masoud, will be different from the previous ones as there are so many displaced Libyans whose homes have been destroyed and who have had to live in schools or on building rooftops, as well as those who were forced to pay exorbitant rents– as much as 2,000 Libyan dinars (nearly USD $ 1,500). “The ongoing conflicts and death have diminished our joy of welcoming Ramadan, not to mention the absence of Ramadan celebrations in the city center,” he said.

Ramadan aid

Many civil society organizations in Benghazi are preparing to distribute food baskets during Ramadan to the displaced and poor people in Benghazi. Additionally, the municipality council opted for providing financial aid for the displaced people.

Omar Barasi, mayor of Benghazi, said the municipality council made a proposal to the Ministry of Social Affairs to distribute financial aid instead of food baskets, proposing that the aid’s value should be enough to meet the families’ needs especially since many charities and benefactors will provide food aid and supplies.

Jalila Dresi, Media Officer at the Libyan Relief Commission, confirmed the arrival of relief supplies from the World Health Organization (WHO) through Egypt, which will be distributed to 1,100 displaced displaced families in Benghazi during Ramadan.

In addition, there were many private benefactors who offered to help the displaced, as well as campaigns, although not all could offer alternative accommodations for the displaced.

The mayor said that the council had the approval the General Staff Presidency to use the camps and install ready-made rooms to accommodate the displaced and affected people to avoid the problem of unofficial settlements in the future. Unfortunately, Barasi said, this would not happen before or during Ramadan.

Fear of high prices

Benghazi’s people are fearful of high prices during Ramadan.  Although the National Guards Apparatus demanded that the Ministry of Economy of the current government specify prices for food, vegetables and meat to traders and shop owners to comply with during Ramadan.

 Aziza stressed that the prices of some Ramadan-specific products such dates, milk, vegetables and many other goods started to rise, adding that she is forced to go the big markets which offer wholesale prices to buy Ramadan requirements in an attempt to save.    

“We are fed up with this situation and we hope that the war stops in these holy days,” Masoud said and stressed that he did not lose hope and that Benghazi would survive and they would receive Ramadan with hope regardless of the circumstances.