Egyptians cling to Ramadan charity as inflation soars

Egyptians cling to Ramadan charity as inflation soars

In a time of dire economic trouble, 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.

For many families, Ramadan boxes of food staples or daily charity iftar meals, organised in droves across the country, "are their only chance to eat meat or chicken," she added.

Even before the current economic crisis -- worsened by Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, which destabilised crucial food imports -- 30 percent of Egyptians were living under the poverty line, with the same number vulnerable to falling into poverty, according to the World Bank.

In addition, surging costs of animal feed have pushed