King launches 'Ramadan 1444' operation for nearly 5 million beneficiaries

King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, proceeded, on Friday in Sidi Moussa, Lamrissa district in Salé, to the launching of the national operation “Ramadan 1444”, initiated by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan and benefiting nearly 5 million people.

This action of generosity, highly significant during this blessed month, reflects the constant Royal solicitude towards the populations in situation of social vulnerability and comes to consecrate the values of humanity, solidarity, mutual aid and sharing, characteristic of the Moroccan society.

Mobilizing a budget of 390 million dirhams, the operation “Ramadan 1444” is characterized this year by the increase, in accordance with the High Royal Instructions, of the number of beneficiaries, which went from 600,000 households during the previous edition to one million households, established in 83 provinces and prefectures of the Kingdom and of which 77% live in rural areas.

The King has also given, on the occasion of this 24th edition, his high instructions to enrich the composition of food aid with new products, including rice and milk.

Organized with the financial support of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs, this national operation has become over time an annual appointment to provide assistance and comfort to the most vulnerable social categories, including widows, the elderly and people with disabilities.

It is in line with the humanitarian program conducted by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and aims to provide support to those most in need, while promoting the 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 country. They will ensure the delivery of food aid to 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. In fact, the identification of the beneficiaries is subject, as every year, to a field work carried out by the local authorities and allowing to evaluate the living conditions of these people and their current situation on the basis of socio-economic criteria.

The social services of the Royal Armed Forces, the National Mutual Aid, the National Promotion and the local authorities are also lending their support to the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity to ensure the smooth running of this solidarity operation. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) ensure, for their part, the quality control of the food products distributed.

On this occasion, the Sovereign has given, as a symbolic gesture, baskets of foodstuffs to 10 heads or representatives of families benefiting from the operation “Ramadan 1444”, before posing for a souvenir photo with volunteers who participate in this solidarity operation.

The national operation of food support has, since its launch in 1998, mobilized an overall budget of nearly 2 billion dirhams, with a number of beneficiary families that has increased from 34,100 in 1998 to one million this year.

The “Ramadan 1444” operation is thus added to the various humanitarian actions and initiatives undertaken by the King in order to promote the culture of solidarity and ensure sustainable human development.