Egyptian charity prepares boxes of food for families during Ramadan

Описание: (17 Feb 2026)

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cairo, Egypt - 16 February 2026
1. Various of volunteers inside Misr ElKheir charity warehouse, packing boxes of food
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mariam Zaki, volunteer:
"Every year, I always see that Misr ElKheir during Ramadan packs Ramadan boxes every day for families in need and I've always wanted to be part of the volunteering team involved in this. This year, I managed to be part of the volunteering team and I came to pack Ramadan boxes. Every year, the items inside the boxes are different based on the needs of the families. This year, hopefully these boxes will bring happiness to these families and we can provide them with everything (they need)."
3. Various of volunteer closing boxes with tape
4. Various of volunteers loading boxes of food into truck
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hanan el-Derbashy, head of the solidarity and debtors sector at Misr ElKheir Foundation:
"This year we are aiming to feed 7 million people observing the fast. It is a huge number, a very big number that the foundation is working towards with all its departments. We have the supply chain department, the execution department, the field offices, we have the Takaful (solidarity) department, we have many departments and volunteers. We have many departments in the foundation that start planning for the campaign five or six months in advance to be able to achieve our target during Ramadan."
6. Various of lanterns on display in market
7. Various of shoppers checking lanterns
8. Various of shoppers at dried fruit and date stall
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Sameh el-Sheikh, Cairo resident:
"We are preparing for the holy month. As you know there is a full atmosphere (specific to Ramadan). Everyone who is married and has children, has to bring the Ramadan spirit to the whole household. And we start to prepare all the Ramadan items including yamish (a mixture of dates, nuts and dried fruits usually purchased before Ramadan). But this year its prices are sky high so we are buying half of the yamish we used to get."
10. Wide of market
STORYLINE:
As Muslims across the world prepare for Ramadan, a charity in Egypt has been preparing boxes of food for struggling families during the Islamic holy month.

Volunteers at Misr ElKheir charity foundation continued to pack up boxes of aid on Monday, filling them with food items to be distributed to families in need.

"Hopefully these boxes will bring happiness to these families and we can provide them with everything," said volunteer Mariam Zaki.

Misr ElKheir is aiming to provide food to 7 million people during the fasting month, which is also a time of religious reflection and charity.

All the departments in the foundation have been collaborating to reach this target, said Hanan el-derbashy, head of the solidarity sector at the organization.

Observant Muslims the world over will soon be united in a ritual of daily fasting from dawn to sunset as Ramadan starts.

Socially, Ramadan often brings families and friends together in festive gatherings around meals to break their fast.

In the days leading up to the start of the holy month, Egyptians usually take to the markets to buy decorations, lanterns and food items.

Some of the shoppers in Cairo complained about high prices this year, saying they have had to buy less items as they prepare to observe Ramadan.

The start of the month traditionally depends on the sighting of the crescent moon.

This year, the first day of Ramadan is expected to be on or around February 18 or 19.


AP video shot by Ahmed Hatem

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