By Sanaullah Ataullah DOHA: Over 2,000 low-income workers gathered at an Iftar tent in front of a mosque in Al Attiyah Market in the Industrial Area and shared the meal on the first day of Ramadan yesterday. Even those who arrived late received water bottles, dates and juices. The tent run by Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation can accommodate about 1,800 people a day. The Peninsula
“It is the first day of Ramadan. We expected more people and arranged meals accordingly but people poured in beyond our expectation,” said a member of the organising team of the tent. “The tent is over-packed, people might felt uncomfortable. Tomorrow we will bring more meals, I assure you that no one will return disappointed,” he added.
The tent will offer protein-rich meals made of rice with chicken or mutton on alternate days. Mineral water, dates, juices and laban are also given with the meals.
People began arriving at the tent after Asr prayers by 4pm. Meals were offered in a big plate (suhun) for four people.
“Today, it is a bit crowded in the tent. I felt uncomfortable sitting very close to my friend,” said a worker. “But I am satisfied the food was enough for everyone. The leftover was taken by two workers, they might eat in Suhoor,” he added.
“There is no issue of leftover food, people are taking it to eat later at their accommodations,” he said.
“The crowd is not unusual, it happened every year in the beginning of Ramadan. Gradually, it will reduce within a few days,” said another worker. Other tents were also set up in the Industrial Area to serve the growing number of low-income workers. At least two were set up on Street No. 2 and Street No. 47 which can accommodate thousands of people.
Some charity organisations distributed Iftar meal packets at some assembly points of workers and labour accommodations to operational costs of the tents that could reach over QR50,000 a day, according to an official of a local charity organisation.
