In the wake of the uprising that erupted on January 25, life is far from normal in Egypt. Um Tarek, is a mum of six living in Helwan Governate, Egypt. Her youngest child is five-years old and suffers from Down’s syndrome.
Little Islam had been getting support at the Islamic Relief rehabilitation centre, but his family – like so many others – is struggling to make ends meet in a country where economic activity has all but ground to a halt.
“We’ve called the rehabilitation centre many times to apologise for not attending Islam’s sessions,” said Um Tarek, “I don’t have money to buy food, let alone money for transportation to the centre.”
Um Tarek normally supports her children and sick husband selling vegetables. But now the supplier she once got the produce from, has run out of vegetables, leaving this mum without the means to earn a living for her family.
“All we had these long weeks was bread and water to keep us alive. Even to get the bread, I wake up before dawn to stand in long queues to get five loaves for a family of eight. I can’t afford more than that.
“My children ask me why I don’t cook anymore. It’s breaking my heart that they are hungry, but I can’t tell them that we have no money or enough food to survive. I have no clue how we will continue like this any longer, and everyone around us is in similar circumstances. I blame it on the insecurity and instability of the country.”
The poorest families in Egypt have been hardest hit by rising food prices and increasing inflation rates. With economists estimating that the rate of inflation will reach 40% within two months, and stocks of food staples already running out, the country faces the very real threat of a food crisis.
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.