As Muslims across South Africa began the holy month, humanitarian aid organisation the Gift of the Givers kicked off its Ramadaan food aid distribution yesterday.
A total of 10 000 food hampers are expected to be donated to various organisations, which include churches, mosques and feeding schemes.
Gift of the Givers founder and director Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman says the organisation took a leaf out of last year’s book when South Africa’s overwhelming poverty manifested itself during the lockdown.
“This year we have kept food parcels in advance for those who are fasting and those who are not fasting because hunger knows no race and religion,” he says.
“We have found that many people have become hungry due to Covid-19.
“We have prepared for weeks in advance for South Africa and other neighbouring countries to provide food relief.”
He adds that trucks carrying bulk food ingredients have also been dispatched to the Southern Cape and West Coast, where about 6000 people will be fed every day for the next month through various feeding schemes.
Muslim communities are also known for their increased generosity during this month and thousands of people make their way to mosques where they receive cooked food and food parcels.
Imam Abdulrazak Nordien of Al Masjidul Aashiq in Tafelsig says requests for food parcels have increased since the pandemic started a year ago.
“People expect to find something when they come to us asking for help with food. This is an underprivileged area,” he says.
“We have a 60% unemployment rate and as I always say, food is like gold to my community and they look forward to this time of the year especially in the time of Ramadaan.”
Sooliman says help is needed now more than ever.
“Our intense prayer this Ramadaan should be for those we know and don't know. The suffering, hardship, hunger, anxiety and fear during Covid-19 has been soul-destroying.”