In Tulkarem, a city in the West Bank, volunteers are diligently working inside a temporary kitchen to add some comfort to the lives of displaced Palestinians during Ramadan. At this makeshift kitchen, set up in a city office building, volunteers are busy seasoning chicken with paprika, oil, and salt before roasting it to perfection. The prepared meat is then distributed into foam containers, accompanied by a generous helping of vibrant yellow rice, all scooped from large steel pots.
The charitable initiative, called the Yasser Arafat Charity Kitchen, hopes to bring a bit of joy to those affected by the recent turmoil. An Israeli military operation has been ongoing in the West Bank, resulting in over 40,000 people being uprooted. This military action, according to Israel, aimed to curb insurgency as the region witnessed increasing violence since the onset of the war in Gaza as of October 2023.
The repercussions of the raid have been extensive, causing significant disruption and damage, and leading to the evacuation of numerous urban refugee camps. These camps, which for years have provided shelter to those who originally fled the wars with Israel, are now desolate. The displaced individuals have been informed they won’t be permitted to return for at least a year, leaving them without access to cooking facilities and away from the supportive embrace of their communities. As they try to observe the end of each day’s Ramadan fast, they face difficulty preparing the festive meals typical for the occasion.
“The situation is dire,” remarked Abdullah Kamil, the governor of the Tulkarem region. He noted that while the conditions are challenging, there is some comfort being drawn from the charity kitchen’s efforts. The kitchen has scaled up its activities to provide meals for approximately 700 refugees daily, aiming to address the urgent needs, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
For 60-year-old Mansour Awfa, these meals have become a beacon of hope amid the prevailing adversity. Having fled from his home in the Tulkarem refugee camp earlier in the year, he is uncertain of when he can return. “This is the home where I was born, where I grew up, and spent my life,” he shared, reflecting on his connection to the camp. “I am not allowed to go back.”
Awfa, along with his wife and four children, are currently residing in a relative’s apartment in the city. Their sleeping arrangements consist of thin mattresses stretched out on the floor. “Where do we go? Where else is there to go?” he questioned, expressing the uncertainty of their current situation. “But thanks to God, we are grateful to receive meals and aid from some compassionate individuals.”
