JAKARTA – When Ramadan arrives, we are always taught to get closer to Allah Swt and live simply by refraining from lust. But in fact, according to data from the Indonesian Central Statistics Agency (BPS), in 2024 household-scale consumption actually increases in the second quarter (April, May, June) and shrinks in the third quarter (July, August, September).
Launching Kumparan, Plt. Head of BPS Amalia Adininggar analyzed that this phenomenon occurred due to seasonal effects in the months of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha. The details are 51.85 percent for food spending and the rest for non-food spending.
Read also: Dompet Dhuafa Distributes 14,000 Packages of Hot Meals for Suhoor and Iftar for Residents in Gaza
The increasing trend of consumption during Ramadan is not unique to Indonesia. In 2021, a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) showed that many Muslim countries produce up to 30 percent more food waste during Ramadan.
You know what? This situation is in contrast to the situation of our brothers and sisters in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. According to the latest data, 1.1 million people – almost half of Gaza’s population – go hungry during Ramadan. Every 27 people – 23 of them children – died due to malnutrition and dehydration in North Gaza.
Read also: Aid Restricted and Hunger Rising, Continue to Help Gaza Survive!
Famine in Gaza occurs not only during Ramadan, but also during the war. Alhamdulillah, in the first week of Ramadan 1446 AH, Ramadan Parcels in the form of groceries and iftar and suhoor packages from Dompet Dhuafa’s donors have reached the residents of North Gaza and Gaza City.
A total of 2,000 Ramadan parcels have been distributed to families who are still living in refugee camps. Each day, Dompet Dhuafa distributes 1,000 iftar and 1,000 suhoor packages.
Far from being fulfilled, they still have to face the disaster of hunger in the midst of uncertain situations. Let’s realize a Ramadan without hunger in Gaza. Let’s sew solidarity by donating through digital.dompetdhuafa.org/donate/berbagibukapalestina. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text: Hany Fatihah Ahmad
Photo: Dompet Dhuafa
Editor: Ronna