by Sanaa Kamal
RAMALLAH, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- A new market was opened in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where craftspeople and farmers can sell their products to support themselves amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The market, located in the Old City of Birzeit town in the north of Ramallah, was initiated by Rozana non-governmental organization that deals with cultural affairs in cooperation with several of the town's institutions.
The market, named Baburiyah, contains 32 kiosks for handicrafts, embroidery, popular foods, vegetables and fruits grown by farmers from the town and neighboring villages.
For now, it only operates on Saturdays in order to meet the strict health measures imposed by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Renad Moussa, 29, said she started a business with a friend a few months ago to manufacture accessories, handicrafts and embroidery, but their marketing efforts were hampered by the outbreak of the pandemic.
"We wanted to create an additional source of income amid the difficult economic conditions in the Palestinian territories," Moussa, whose day job is media coordinator in a local organization, told Xinhua.
"The market has provided an opportunity to present our products to customers directly. It will also help us start business cooperation with others," the young woman said.
The market was named after Babour, the Arabic word for traditional gas lanterns which were widely used in Palestinian homes in the early decades of the 20th century.
In addition to serving as a marketplace, Baburiyah is also a magnet for various performances, such as musical evenings, circus shows as well as storytelling and traditional folkloric activities.
Najwa Khoury, a coordinator of the Baburiyah Market project, said this market location was chosen to highlight and preserve the heritage of the Old City of Birzeit.
The idea is aimed at "enhancing individual economic activities and alleviating dire economic conditions caused by the spread of the COVID-19," Khoury told Xinhua.
The Palestinian territories have been suffering economic recession since the government imposed a general lockdown in early March to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.
"We hope to expand this market idea to all Palestinian cities to enhance creativity and help farmers and craftspeople generate additional income," said Raafat Jamil, a coordinator from Rozana. Enditem
