57-year-old Walid Al Hattab makes groats for the poor of Gaza. Fady Hossam for The National
57-year-old Walid Al Hattab makes groats for the poor of Gaza. Fady Hossam for The National
57-year-old Walid Al Hattab makes groats for the poor of Gaza. Fady Hossam for The National
57-year-old Walid Al Hattab makes groats for the poor of Gaza. Fady Hossam for The National

Ramadan 2020: the Gazan man serving up free food for the poor


  • English
  • Arabic

In Gaza’s Al Shujaiya neighborhood, a place that was completely destroyed in the 2014 war, 57-year-old Walid Al Hattab found his passion.

Pointing to a busy corner in the middle of the public market where people come to buy cheap vegetables, Walid remembers how the idea hit him four years ago.

"I was sitting there looking at my neighbours, both poor and rich and I decided to cook some Gresha (wheat groats) and distribute it to whoever walks by," he tells The National.

Walid noticed how many people came with empty pots to get free portions of what he had cooked.

Gaza has witnessed a severe worsening of the economic and humanitarian conditions for its 2 million people in recent years. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees reported that nearly 1.3 million in Gaza rely on food aid, and it is now subject to the coronavirus outbreak, albeit on a smaller scale because of severe Israeli travel restrictions.

Just like most people in Gaza, Walid seems to notice how the dire living conditions in the enclave affect the daily lives of its residents, especially during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

He says this is why he decided to make a habit of cooking Gresha for the poor families in his neighbourhood.

57-year-old Walid Al Hattab is feeding the poor of Gaza during Ramadan. Fady Hossam for The National
57-year-old Walid Al Hattab is feeding the poor of Gaza during Ramadan. Fady Hossam for The National

With an untrimmed beard and a jacket that barely protects him from the fire he lights up, Walid describes the traditional meal.

“It is very simple and I can make it at a low cost. The Gresha is basically dry grated wheat cooked with lamb meat and some spices.”

Walid realizes it may not be a fancy meal for some people, but it certainly fulfils the needs of those who can’t make ends meet in a coastal strip that has the highest levels of unemployment in the world.

“This pot I’m using contains enough Gresha to feed nearly 130 families,” Walid says, looking kindly at tens of people, children mostly, who have lined up with their empty pots waiting for the meal.

"It doesn't cost much; I mean it nearly costs 400-500 shekels (Dh420-520) to buy the ingredients for this meal," he continues. He pays for the food from donations known as zakat from within Gaza.

Large numbers of families in Gaza have been pushed deeper into poverty during the past 13 years due to Israel's crippling blockade, three wars between Hamas and Israel and, most recently, a new hidden enemy called Covid-19.

Life has become strenuous and mostly unbearable for the majority of the 2 million Palestinians locked into the tiny, impoverished territory.

“The situation was much better last year in Gaza; I can say that more people are coming here this year especially with this new coronavirus situation because of the economic implications,” Walid says.

The meal that Walid Al Hattab makes is known as 'gresha'. Fady Hossam for The National.
The meal that Walid Al Hattab makes is known as 'gresha'. Fady Hossam for The National.

“I’m also glad there are other people who do the same now,” he adds.

Walid also believes Gaza is still relatively safe compared to other countries as all of the confirmed cases of coronavirus are still quarantined, and therefore people can still come to grab a bowl of his hearty dish.

In the occupied West Bank and Gaza, just 353 cases have been announced, with two deaths.

Gaza cannot afford to leave these places open all year round, which is why the end of Ramadan in May will also be the end to these food handouts and the end to Walid’s Gresha.

But Walid remains upbeat that he can bring some relief to those in need during Ramadan.

“We thank God the virus has not spread in Gaza yet,” he says, a serious yet relieved smile drawn across his face.

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

Results

2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mezmar, Adam McLean (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).

3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: AF Ajwad, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Gold Silver, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.

4pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m; Winner: Atrash, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez.

4.30pm: Gulf Cup Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Momtaz, Saif Al Balushi, Musabah Al Muhairi.

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Al Mushtashar, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

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Company profile

Company name: Nestrom

Started: 2017

Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi

Based: Jordan

Sector: Technology

Initial investment: Close to $100,000

Investors: Propeller, 500 Startups, Wamda Capital, Agrimatico, Techstars and some angel investors

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

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Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

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Company profile

Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018

Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: Health-tech

Size: 22 employees

Funding: Seed funding 

Investors: Flat6labs, 500 Falcons, three angel investors

Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt

Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure

Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers

Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised

Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels

Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

FFP EXPLAINED

What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.

What the rules dictate? 
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.

What are the penalties? 
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.

Abramovich London

A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.

A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.

Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.

Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.

Brief scoreline:

Manchester United 0

Manchester City 2

Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'

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Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company

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Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

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WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Student Of The Year 2

Director: Punit Malhotra

Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal 

1.5 stars

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile

Started: 2013

Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev

Sector: e-commerce

Size: 600 plus

Stage: still in talks with VCs

Principal Investors: self-financed by founder