Conflicts in the Middle East overshadow Eid celebrations, with people in Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon facing displacement and economic hardships.
In Lebanon, ongoing Israeli attacks have displaced over a million people, turning parts of Beirut into tent cities as residents like Syrian refugee Alaa search for shelter instead of celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which began on March 20.
Challenges in Lebanon
Alaa, originally from the occupied Golan Heights, spent the day wandering Beirut after being rejected from schools and forced to sleep on the corniche, highlighting the immediate survival needs amid the conflict that escalated from previous fighting between October 2023 and November 2024.
In Iran, the third week of US-Israeli attacks has exacerbated an existing economic crisis, making it difficult for people to afford traditional Eid items, with dangers such as bombing damage to places like Tehran’s grand bazaar adding to the hardships.
The religious aspects of Eid are complicated for some Iranians, as antigovernment sentiments lead others to focus on Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which also fell on March 20, instead of Eid events.
Struggles in Gaza
In Gaza, Israeli restrictions on goods have driven up prices, making children’s toys and basic foods unaffordable for many, as shared by 62-year-old Khaled Deeb, who reminisced about past Eids when he could provide gifts and sweets but now faces poverty in a partially destroyed home.
Shireen Shreim, a mother of three, described incomplete joy in Eid amid two years of war, living in an apartment with makeshift repairs while others reside in tents, underscoring the ongoing violence and lack of basic necessities.
Despite the difficulties, individuals like Karim Safieddine in Beirut emphasize maintaining family bonds and communal solidarity as a means to endure the war, viewing it as essential for rebuilding society amid the bombings.
