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Across China: Ramadan in quake-hit region

Xinhua, July 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Mahsum Murat wears a grim expression as he collects bricks and wood from his old house that was shattered in the 6.5-magnitude earthquake earlier this month.

It is in the holy month of Ramadan, and Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink from sunrise to dusk. The summer heat has tested the endurance of his body and spirit.

At noon, Murat fetches two naan bread, a popular local delicacy, two bottles of water and a small pot of fried rice from a temporary supply center set up by the government after the quake, which hit Pishan County of Hotan Prefecture on July 3 and left 3 dead and 71 injured.

"Classes are over, my two kids will come back soon," he said. "Adults can bear hunger, the kids are too young to suffer."

The earthquake damaged 12,000 houses and 66,000 people have been evacuated.

Murat was lucky none of his family members suffered injuries in the quake as they moved to a newly-built quake-proof house in 2013 sponsored by the government. The 80-year-old adobe house they lived in before was completely destroyed in the earthquake.

During Ramadan, which began on June 18, Murat prayed 5 times a day in accordance to Islamic doctrines. With the villages' only mosque suffering damage during the quake, Murat and his father pray at home.

"We pray for our family members and neighbors," he said. "I hope life will return to normal as soon as possible."

Trucks have been streaming in and out of a goods receiving station in the seat of the county, distributing flour, rice and instant noodles. Each package is clearly marked "halal".

"Donators respect the locals' customs and every piece of food transported to the quake-hit region are clean and halal," said Ghumaljan Haxim, who is in charge of the station.

Life still continues in the Pixna township, the worst-hit region in the earthquake. Fruit and food stalls thrive on the square in front of the township government.

Murat is preparing for Eid al-Fitr, a large festival that marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which falls on Saturday.

"I hope my kids wear new clothes during the festival," he said. "It will make them happy and forget the pains brought by the earthquake." Endi