A library photo for one of Palestinian mothers protesting the PA's assets freeze

By Yasser el-Banna, IOL Correspondent

GAZA CITY, November 5 (IslamOnline.net) – As the holy fasting month of Ramadan enters its 11th day in the occupied Palestinian territories, thousands of orphans continue to bear the brunt of the Palestinian Authority (PA) decision to freeze the assets of charities and NGOs.

Deprived of the charities' aid and money that were supporting them during hard times, the mothers of Palestinian orphans can neither provide for their children nor meet their demands during Ramadan.

The PA froze on August 28 the assets of some 18 charities under the pretext of having links with Palestinian resistance movements.

The move came days after U.S. President George Bush froze the assets of five pro-Palestinians charities abroad, depriving Palestinian orphans of their much-needed aid.

"Every Ramadan, charities were used to giving money, plenty of food and clothes to orphans; but now we need water and money to stay alive," Shafa Gindiya, a mother of six orphans, told IslamOnline.net.

As Eid al-Fitr is drawing closer, Gindiya's children will not have new clothes to go out with other children to rejoice.

"There is a nearby market which sells clothes and toys that I cannot afford…I have to tell my children it is out of my hand, we should not lose our patience," she added.

"Now that I can't afford new clothes, I try to console my children with ironing and washing their old clothes, so that they might look new."

Om Ashraf, another mother who caters for her 10 children and a disabled husband, has lost the main source of their income after freezing the assets of  an Islamic charity.

"The charity used to give us 700 shekels ($160) per month and last Ramadan it paid us an additional 2000 shekels…But now after we have lost this, we are living on the edge," she told IOL.

"We survive on the alms given by our neighbors…May Allah support us overcome our ordeal."

The director general of the charity, Sakr Abu Hein, told IOL that all Palestinians are in a dire need for charity works, especially during the month of Ramadan.

"Now we can't spend a penny or support our people as long as our assets are frozen. The charity was providing for 3,000 orphans, up to 1,000 poor families, some 5,000 kindergarten children and 1,000 school students," he asserted.

"Additionally, we pay annual university fees for thousands of students, provide thousands of food packages and tons of meat for the needy and supervise many hospitals and charge-free medical centers," Abu Hein elaborated.

He said the charity also used to provide Iftaar meals during Ramadan for the poor and give every child from 50 to 100 shekels at the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

"This is the worst year ever for the Palestinians…Now there are 15,000 orphans in the Gaza Strip deprived of the charities' support," he lamented.