King Mohammed V, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, launched the national “Ramadan 1447” operation on Saturday in Salé and symbolically handed out food baskets to 10 heads or representatives of families benefiting from this year’s operation to benefit over 4.3 million people.
The operation, initiated by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity on the 00occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, benefits over 4.3 million people.
This solidarity initiative, sponsored by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, has become a tradition over the years. It reflects the King’s constant solicitude towards socially vulnerable populations, and enshrines the values of humanity, solidarity, mutual aid and sharing, which characterize the Moroccan society.
This solidarity operation, now in its 28th edition, has a budget of 305 million dirhams, and will distribute 34,550 tons of food products (flour, milk, rice, oil, sugar, tomato paste, pasta, lentils, and tea), bringing aid and comfort to the most vulnerable social categories, notably widows, the elderly and people with disabilities.
In accordance with the royal instructions, and for the second consecutive year, this initiative relies on the Unified Social Register to identify eligible households living in precarious conditions, ensuring the equitable distribution of food basket across 1,304 municipalities.
The beneficiaries’ lists are updated in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior services, on the basis of the socio-economic indicators of the Unified Social Register. The updating allowed for the establishment of a consolidated reference and an accurate mapping of beneficiaries, enhancing transparency and efficiency.
Data from the Unified Social Register shows that 74% of beneficiary households live in rural areas. Among the one million heads of households recorded, there are 432,092 elderly people, 211,381 widows, and 88,163 people with disabilities (731,636 individuals in total).
Organized with the financial support of the Ministry of Interior (General Directorate of Local Authorities) and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, the “Ramadan 1447” operation is in line with the humanitarian program conducted by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, aiming to provide support to those in greatest need while promoting a culture of solidarity.
For the smooth running of this operation, thousands of people are mobilized, supported by social workers and volunteers, at the distribution points set up throughout the national territory. They will ensure that food aid is delivered to the heads and representatives of beneficiary families.
The implementation of this initiative is also subject to controls, particularly at the level of two committees, one local and the other provincial, which monitor the supply of distribution centers, the identification of beneficiaries and the distribution of foodstuffs.
The social services of the Royal Armed Forces and the Royal Gendarmerie, local authorities, and several ministerial departments, offices and companies also support the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity in ensuring the smooth implementation of this solidarity operation.
The Ministry of Health and the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) ensure, for their part, the quality control of food products.
Since its launch in 1998, the national food aid operation has mobilized a total budget of more than 2.5 billion dirhams, with the number of beneficiary families rising from 34,100 in 1998 to one million starting in 2023.
The “Ramadan 1447” operation thus adds to the various humanitarian actions and initiatives undertaken by King Mohammed VI to promote the culture of solidarity, strengthen the cohesion of Moroccan society, and ensure inclusive and sustainable human development.
