When Eid didn't make children happy

Stories like this abound in this city where Eid meant nothing. Earthquake-affected children living in city tents experienced a different Eid-ul Fitr this year, a sharp departure from otherwise full-of-zeal-and-zest traditional religious festival.

"This year's Eid was different as many of us prayed and cried for dear and near ones that we have lost in earthquake", Yasmin at Jalalabad camp said, adding "at least I am alive to remember them", who pulled herself out from rubble only to find her one daughter dead.

Two days before Eid at Jalalabad camp, children and women were found collecting old clothes as Eid gifts. Rokhsana (7) was delighted to get hold of a colourful kamiz that she wore on Eid day.

"Traditionally we used to have fun time during Eid holidays, visiting family and relatives, having good food, dress and gossiping a lot", Azaibullah Abbas remembers at Tandali camp, some 10 kilometers away from city. His son Mamun (7) ate traditional paratha while young girls read out verses from Quran.

At Langorpura camp, Shegufta (7) was playing with sand and took us to nearby camp. There we found Jaida Bibi was preparing food for her kids. She and her two kids came out of the rubble after three hours being trapped.

'With so many deaths around and when we have lost everything, how we can enjoy Eid?" she questions. Tayera (7) lost her mother, brother, three sisters and now lives in Kharimirabadi camp with her aunt, who also lost her five-year daughter.

Many children who used to attend morning prayers with their fathers missed this year's congregation. So many children have lost their friends that they spent idle times during the hours of traditional festivity. "We prepared some sweets for children and we could not think of affording meat during this crisis period", said Jaida, another mother at Jalalabad camp.

With snowing winter approaching fast, how many of these kids will survive to see next year's Eid is a different question altogether.