Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity will distribute nearly 60 million meals across the country during the holy month of Ramadan through a nationwide network of feeding points, Minister Maya Morsy said.
The programme will operate through 642 Ahl El-Kheir feeding points and more than 20 fixed and mobile Mahrousa restaurants and distribution outlets across the country, according to the ministry.
The effort will be carried out in partnership with 286 entities, including the Ministry of Awqaf and multiple civil society groups and charities.
Morsy said the “Itaam” (Feeding) initiative is designed to provide daily hot meals to families most in need during Ramadan, while also creating income opportunities for female breadwinners working in participating kitchens.
The ministry framed the campaign as part of broader state efforts to expand food support during the fasting month, when household spending typically rises.
In parallel, the ministry—through the Fund for Supporting NGO and Civil Institution Projects—has launched an Ahl El-Kheir competition aimed at selecting the most impactful feeding campaigns.
The first phase is already underway, with a second phase scheduled to continue through the end of Ramadan.
The ministry has invited NGOs, civil society organizations, and volunteer initiatives to apply through its website.
The Ministry of Social Solidarity, which oversees Egypt’s social protection system, has expanded coordination with civil society in recent years on large-scale welfare and food-security programmes.
Among its flagship schemes is the Takaful and Karama cash-transfer programme, which supports low-income families, older people, and persons with disabilities.
Ramadan food distribution drives typically complement these cash payments by helping households manage seasonal increases in food costs.
Large scale meal distribution has become a recurring feature of Egypt’s Ramadan social programmes, combining government oversight with charitable and volunteer participation. Recent initiatives have increasingly linked food assistance with income-generation opportunities, including employment for women heading households in community kitchens
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