(21 May 2020) LEAD IN:
Amid the virus restrictions, a Tunisian sweet maker has start a free delivery service for his delights.
STORY-LINE:
Sweet maker Maher Rtibi suffered a great loss during the lockdown imposed in Tunisia.
But in order not to lose his clients as well, he started delivering his delights for free during Ramadan, a month in which sweets are desired by those fasting.
He comes early before the iftar time to prepare the orders he receives online or by phone.
"It is also a temporary solution to earn some income for my family and also to help my workers in temporary unemployment," Rtibi explains.
When the Tunisian authorities eased the locked restrictions, Rtibi and other shop owners resumed their business but with limited capacity.
Free delivery is a not a common service in the Kasserine area.
And in order not to incur additional expenses, Rtibi decided to do it himself.
After preparing his products, he drives his own car to deliver the deserts to his clients.
Ahmed Boukhari says he cannot go out during confinement, so he called Rtibi to get his Ramadan delights and satisfy his sweet tooth.
"I've talked to him over the phone and he brought me two of these sweets, one for iftar (breaking the fast) and one for suhor (before-fasting meal)," Boukhari says.
The village of Kasserine has been struggling even before the pandemic outbreak.
The unemployment rate was around 22% end of last year, with a poverty rate of 32.8% according to the Tunisian ministry of social affairs.
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