Egyptians Cling to Ramadan Charity as Inflation Soars

Egyptians Cling to Ramadan Charity as Inflation Soars

This year Egyptians are holding fast to the Ramadan tradition of charity, with both donors and those in need pinning hopes on holiday generosity.

Families have buckled under the weight of inflation, which hit 32.9 percent in February as Egyptians tried to fill their shelves ahead of the Islamic holy month of daytime fasting and special evening meals, known as iftar.

"Last year, we were giving out 360 iftar meals every day -- this year, I'm not sure we'll make it to 200," said the founder of a small charity in the working-class Cairo district of al-Marg.

Yet those meals have never been more vital, the charity worker said, asking not to be named for privacy concerns.

Many families rely on Ramadan boxes of food staples or daily charity iftar meals, organized in droves across the country to eat meat or chicken, she added.

Before Ramadan began, the charities upon which tens of millions of Egyptians depend raised the alarm that they were struggling to meet more people's needs, at higher costs, with dwindling donations.

But a focus on generosity, even and especially in times of trouble, is baked into Ramadan, "when most Egyptians give out their yearly charity, a very cherished custom," said Manal Saleh,