The poorest families in Egypt have been hardest hit by a stagnant economy in the wake of the uprising that erupted on January 25. The family of So’ad, of Ayyat town, is one of those that are really struggling.
So’ad is a widow who works as a school janitor for a small salary of 110 EGP (13 Euros) a month. Her earnings don’t stretch very far as she tries to support eight dependents, including six children, who all share a single room dwelling.
“What I earn from school is our only source of income, but sometimes I get help from charity because my wage is never enough,” she said. “There isn’t enough money to provide for our most basic needs. Prices keep rising and income keeps falling: what I could buy with ten pounds yesterday, I can hardly buy half of it today. I don’t know what to do or how to cope.
“Our life is very hard. We are barely alive. I can’t count the days we slept on an empty stomach, or the days we survived on just breadcrumbs. On good days, we can buy lentils, potatoes and cheese.”
So’ad’s physically demanding work exacerbates her health problems and she suffers from a bad back as well as a respiratory disorder.
“I work sweeping floors, and the dust blocks my respiratory passages. I’m supposed to rest on my back in bed, but I am holding on tight to my job. What would I do without even this meagre wage? I’m broke by the middle of every month, and, without even a pound in my pocket, I have to borrow from my neighbours. I’m so tired and worn out.”
The family rely on neighbours to get water or use the bathroom. “You can’t imagine how embarrassing it is to keep knocking on the doors of your neighbours every day... how it feels to be always in need. I only wish to not be that helpless and impoverished, not to be always in debt, not always so tired.”
But So’ad and her family are now one of 5,000 people to have received some much-needed help through Islamic Relief.
“Sometimes I think that there is no hope and tomorrow we will starve, but then God never forgets us,” So’ad said, “He sent Islamic Relief to us with this food parcel. You don’t know how much it means to be remembered; it gives us hope and happiness and reduces the severity of that feeling of helplessness.”
We are distributing 1,000 food parcels in Ayyat town, thanks to funding by Islamic Relief USA. Each parcel contains food staples - such as rice, macaroni, beans, lentils, meat and oil – and will sustain a family for more than a month.
Islamic Relief has been helping poor and vulnerable families in Egypt for more than a decade. We are appealing for your help to support and improve our work in the country, and in the wider region. Please donate to our Middle East and North Africa appeal today.