GUESSA'S STORY

Guessa Berete, is from the District of Bamako, in Mali

"I spent the Eid in good health. It is different from other times because of the fact that many people care for their poor neighbours at this time. I got a lot of food and other commodities from generous people.

I celebrated Eid with joy and happiness as I was healthy and received many blessings from my fellow people. The only thing I am still dreaming of is how to accomplish my holy duty in Mecca, but I remain grateful to Allah and as a faithful person I must abide by what is provided to me by him.

We are five persons: I, my three daughters and my step-sister. I am the main breadwinner of this family and my income comes from casual work. I am always struggling to find food for my family. During the harvest season I work for farmers who pay me with cereal.

My house is made of mud with three single rooms, it is totally deteriorated. When it rains, we have to go to the kitchen. Sanitation conditions are very bad. The pitch latrine is filled up with excrement and smells all the time.

We eat pasta regularly and when we have some money we eat rice. Sometimes we eat different types of meals mainly provided to us by some of our neighbours who care about our living conditions.

My favourite meal is Jollof; cooked rice with fresh fish, which is expensive and mainly for rich people that can afford it.

I eat meat once in a while; I would say less than three times per month. The price of a kilogram of fresh meat is € 2.13.

Food is not available like before. This is due to regular rainfall shortages and periodic locust infestation to which is now added the increasing population and the constant deterioration of farming lands.

The children are the first ones to suffer when there is a food shortage. They face malnutrition and constantly fall sick. All these situations are very painful for a head of family when you do not have any means to overcome them. Before the food shortages we ate millet, sorgho, rice and beans.

I did not know Islamic Relief and I had not heard of it before. This is my first time to be served with meat packs.

This meat will serve us for some days and when I leave you I am going to cook part of this meat and then dry it so that I will not need to buy meat for a while.

I thank Allah the Almighty for allowing us to be part of this feast. May all of us live for a long time! It is only the Almighty that can reward those that care for the neediest. May Allah always feed them with sharing faith and beliefs."