ALGIERS, October 25 (IslamOnline.net) – Muslims in Algeria are set to mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan this year under harsh conditions as the specters of price hikes, violence and immorality are looming large over this north African country. But the government is trying its best to ride waves of hardships.

As the month is about to start – most probably Sunday or Monday, vegetables and fruit prices have mind-bogglingly increased at an average of 50 to 150 percent, while meat has shot up from 450 dinars ($9) per kilo to 700 dinars.

"Ramadan has lost its glamour this year due to price hikes, egoism, terrorism and morals decline, which would cast their pall on the holy month," Mujahda Sulimani, a housewife, told IslamOnline.net Saturday, October 25.

"In the past, particularly during the colonial era, all Algerians were observing the fasting month and no one dared to go publicly with their non-observance," she lamented the good old days.

She continued: "Well-off families used to distribute meals among the needy ones, even during the times of curfews, they were giving 'Ramadan package' to them."

Mrs. Sulimani further said that Ramadan was mustering up patriotism and beefing up resistance.

Algeria's middle class is now caught between a rock and a hard place as they are facing abject poverty and hiking prices.

And despite pay rates will rise by 25 percent as of the beginning of the new year, vendors have increased their prices by 20 to 40 percent the moment they knew about the new raise.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) put at 57 the percentage of the poor living in Algeria against the 70 percent - 12 million - estimated by the opposition.

Earnest Efforts

However, the picture may not be that dim. The Algerian government is planning to open some 589 restaurants to serve more than seven million hot meals for the poor during the holy month.

The Red Crescent, in cooperation with state-run solidarity committees, will distribute 950,000 food packages among the poor.

Furthermore, 800 million dinars ($10 million) have been earmarked for opening 16 restaurants to serve up to 50,000 hot meals per day, which will cater for 16,000 families.

Algerian authorities banned three years ago political parties and charities either to open 'mercy restaurants' or distribute Ramadan food packages unless they got first a license from the Ministry of Interior.

Authorities argue that charity in Ramadan is used to serve the parties' political motives and ordered food aid to be delivered only to the ministry of national solidarity and the Red Crescent.

Insecurity

Algerian police are also placed on maximum alert with crowded markets and public areas under tight security in a country ravaged by a deadly civil war since the emergence of the Islamic Salvation Front in 1992.

Ever since, the holy month has witnessed terrifying massacres that slaughtered more than 3,000 people.