Eid-ul-Fitr is usually a time when families come together, but with the devastation caused by the earthquake leaving thousands homeless, Plan is trying to help give people some respite from the grim conditions they find themselves in.

The flooding has killed more than 1,700 people and affected more than 18 million across a third of the country. Plan has been heavily involved in helping find people temporary shelter and providing basic cooked and dried food supplies, but with the arrival of the most important annual holiday in the calendar for Pakistani Muslims, they have begun distributing 20,000 special Eid food packages.

Eid-ul-Fitr is usually a time when families come together, special Eid meals are prepared to mark the end of fasting and it is a special time for children. Girls receive new clothes, buy and wear new glass bangles and put mehndi (henna) on their hands and the boys get new shalwar kameez (traditional clothing). Children get ‘Eidee’ from grown-ups – usually a small sum of money.

Ten-year-old Zaafira is with her two younger brothers, father and grandmother in a Plan-supported camp in Makli, Thatta district, Sindh. She says she does not expect to receive any gifts this year. “I do not know what we will do this year – I hope we can go home for it, but I don’t know”. Her mother Jannat says, “We have nothing for Eid celebrations. How could we? Look where we are living. Usually the children get new clothes and bangles – but how can I give them any of that this year, when we are struggling just to eat?”

Plan hope to provide some kind of relief for children and families in the flood-hit areas, and while their special food packages might not be a replacement for families’ traditional Eid celebrations, they could just provide some hope and cheer at this terrible time.

People across Pakistan are forgoing their traditional Eid gifts this year and donating to needy flood victims instead.

Those not affected have been giving what they can to others, says Director of Plan in Pakistan, Haider Yaqub. “The flooding has had a devastating impact on many areas – but there are others which have not been affected. Many Pakistani people feel great solidarity and concern for the flood survivors and are saying they will not spend much money on Eid this year, but will donate that money”.

Haider explains, “There are many text and email campaigns going around right now for people to donate their Eid money. So, even if many people celebrate, as it is a religious festival and a religious duty, they will donate much of what they would usually spend to flood relief”.

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