Iftar Ramadan at Villawood Detention Centre.

By Fadi El Haje

It's another year and another Ramadan for many Muslim refugees at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre (VIDC) and detentions.

Checking on the well being of the Refugees and Part of providing greater support to the community and refugees, The Australian Minister of Immigration Advisory Board member, Dr. Jamal Rifi, and Mouataz Zreika, Board Member of the Lebanese Moslem Association visited the Villawood Detention Centre and shared an Iftar Ramadan with the detainees on Tuesday the 15 of July 2014.

It goes without saying, Visitors play an essential role for people in detention, especially in the Month of Ramadan. This year - our focus is to help people in Community Detention and newly arrived refugees as we know they are in a dire need and struggling severely. Unlike most of us, these refugees are not blessed with the luxury of enjoying a home-cooked meal with family and friends. They cannot choose which cuisine they would prefer to eat, or at which restaurant they would like to dine at. The food that is provided to them day-after-day is very basic, making it difficult for them to enjoy the experience of breaking the fast - something we take for granted too often.

Members of our community has been very generously supporting in the spirit of Ramadan by sending foods for Iftar every day in Ramadan, Including fresh fruits, Salads and Lebanese Sweets, bbq meat and culturally appropriate and healthy foods for the refugees and asylum seekers. The Detainees of Muslim faith came from many different backgrounds, and they have a detainee among them of Sudanese Background that lead the prayers as an Imam in a designated pray Area.