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Syrians in Damascus spend Ramadan in darkness

The usual decorations and hubbub synonymous with the holy month are missing this year in Syria, amid a devastating war, economic crisis and the fallout from a deadly earthquake.
Displaced families celebrate with their children the Eid al-Fitr Muslim holiday, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, at a luna park in Afrin, Aleppo province, Syria, May 3, 2022.

DAMASCUS — Jamal’s family gathers around the iftar table — for the fast-breaking evening meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan — in the town of Harasta, near the Syrian capital Damascus, just before 7 p.m. at sunset, as darkness begins to obscure their faces. 

Syrians in the government-held areas barely get one hour of state electricity daily, spending the rest of their days in complete darkness amid a crippling power crisis plaguing the war-torn country. 

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