Food is more than sustenance. It is dignity, security, and the foundation on which every other aspect of a person’s life depends. When a family does not know where their next meal is coming from, children cannot focus in school, caregivers cannot work, and communities cannot move forward. Hunger traps people in cycles of poverty that are extraordinarily difficult to break without outside support.
Islamic Relief South Africa has been responding to food insecurity across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho since 2004. Through emergency food relief, seasonal food distributions, and long-term food security programmes, we work to ensure that no family in our reach goes without.
He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while his neighbour goes hungry.
Hadith | Sahih al-Bukhari
Our Global Impact
Islamic Relief reaches millions of people with food assistance every year across the globe. The figures below reflect the scale of our collective impact and the difference that your support makes when it reaches communities directly.
828M+
people go hungry every single day in some of the world’s poorest communities
5.4M+
people reached through Islamic Relief’s food security and livelihoods interventions globally
1.3M+
people received Ramadan food parcels across 29 countries through Islamic Relief Worldwide
Islamic Relief Worldwide implemented 167 food security and livelihoods interventions globally, reaching over 5.4 million people. Ramadan food parcels were delivered to over 1.3 million people across 29 countries.
The Reality of Hunger
Hunger is not a distant problem. Across South Africa, millions of people live in households where food insecurity is a daily reality. The legacy of inequality, high unemployment, rising food prices, and the ongoing effects of climate-related disruptions have pushed many families to the edge. In rural communities, drought and crop failure can wipe out an entire season’s food supply. In urban areas, the working poor often earn just enough to survive, with no safety net when income is disrupted.
Globally, the scale of the crisis is staggering. According to the World Food Programme, over 828 million people go hungry every day. Conflict, displacement, and climate shocks are driving food insecurity to levels not seen in decades, with millions on the brink of famine in countries including Sudan, Gaza, Yemen, and Somalia.
Islamic Relief South Africa responds to both the immediate and underlying causes of hunger, providing emergency food relief when crises strike and investing in long-term food security solutions that help communities build resilience for the future.
How We Provide Food Aid
Our food aid work operates across two complementary approaches: immediate relief and long-term food security. Both are essential. Emergency food assistance saves lives in the short term, while sustainable food security programmes address the root causes of hunger and build lasting resilience.
Emergency Food Packs
When floods, fires, drought, or displacement strike, Islamic Relief South Africa deploys emergency food packs containing essential staples such as rice, flour, cooking oil, lentils, and canned goods to stabilise affected households as quickly as possible.
Ramadan Food Distributions
During the sacred month of Ramadan, we distribute food packs to vulnerable families across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, ensuring that households can break their fast with dignity and share in the blessings of the month.
Qurbani Meat Distribution
Your Qurbani donations allow us to distribute fresh meat to thousands of families across South Africa during Dhul Hijjah, providing a vital protein source for households that rarely have access to meat. Our Quality Assured Qurbani process also supports local butchers and economies.
Agricultural and Food Security Programmes
Through our Sustainable Livelihoods and Food and Water Security sectors, we support small-scale farming, distribute seeds, rehabilitate boreholes, and train community members in agricultural best practices to strengthen long-term food production at the household and community level.
Orphan Food Support
Islamic Relief South Africa supports thousands of orphaned children with food aid, healthcare, and educational assistance. Regular food parcels and nutritional support are a core component of our Orphan Sponsorship Programme, ensuring that vulnerable children receive adequate meals and the care they deserve.
Water and Food Security
Access to clean water is inseparable from food security. Islamic Relief South Africa rehabilitates and drills boreholes across rural communities, giving families direct access to clean drinking water. Water infrastructure also supports agricultural productivity, improving food availability and long-term resilience.
What Islam Teaches About Feeding the Hungry
In Islam, feeding the hungry is among the most highly rewarded acts of worship. The Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) place enormous emphasis on ensuring that no person in one’s community goes without food, and that those with means take responsibility for those without.
Free the captives, feed the hungry and pay a visit to the sick.
Hadith | Sahih al-Bukhari
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also said that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will remind us of the times we were asked to feed His servants and did not. This hadith reminds us that feeding the hungry is not merely an act of charity but a direct expression of our relationship with Allah and our obligations to one another as members of the human family.
Whoever feeds a person breaking his fast will earn the same reward as him, without anything being lessened from the reward of the fasting person.
Hadith | Tirmidhi
During Ramadan, fasting teaches us to experience hunger as a reminder of those for whom it is not a choice. This empathy is meant to translate into action. By donating to Islamic Relief South Africa’s food programmes during Ramadan and throughout the year, you are fulfilling one of the most profound obligations of our faith.
Can Food Donations Count as Sadaqah?
Yes. Donating food, or funds to provide food, is one of the most direct and rewarding forms of Sadaqah in Islam. The intention behind the giving is what matters: when you donate for the sake of Allah, with the sincere desire to alleviate the suffering of another person, the reward is immense.
Beyond one-off food donations, contributing to sustainable food security solutions, such as agricultural training, seed distribution, or water infrastructure, carries the qualities of Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity). When a borehole you helped fund continues to supply water that supports a family’s crops for years to come, the reward continues long after the initial donation.
Every food pack distributed, every borehole drilled, and every farming skill taught is a continuation of your Sadaqah. Your donation does not end when it leaves your hand. It continues to nourish lives, season after season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does my donation reach people in need?
When you donate to Islamic Relief South Africa’s food programmes, your funds are pooled with other donations and directed to our active food distribution programmes. Our field teams on the ground in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho procure food items locally where possible, pack them into standardised food packs, and distribute them directly to verified beneficiary households. Every step of the process is monitored and reported on, and you will receive a receipt and tax certificate for your donation.
What is included in a food pack?
A standard Islamic Relief South Africa food pack is designed to provide a family with essential staples for approximately one month. Packs typically include items such as rice, maize meal, flour, cooking oil, lentils, sugar, salt, and canned goods. The exact contents may vary depending on the programme, the region, and the season. Ramadan food packs are specifically curated to support families during the fasting month and may include additional items appropriate for suhoor and iftar.
Can I donate food instead of money?
We generally recommend donating money rather than physical food items. Cash donations allow our teams to purchase food locally, which supports local economies, ensures freshness, and allows us to tailor packs to the specific dietary needs and preferences of each community. Physical food donations can be difficult to transport, store, and quality-control at scale. If you would like to organise a food drive or in-kind donation, please contact us on 021 696 0145 or email info@islamic-relief.org.za to discuss the best approach.
Can I use my Zakat to donate to food aid?
Yes, in most cases. Zakat may be given to the poor and the needy, which are among the eight categories of eligible Zakat recipients defined in the Quran (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:60). If a food aid donation is directed to individuals who qualify as poor or needy, it is permissible to use Zakat funds for this purpose. Islamic Relief South Africa ensures that Zakat funds are distributed only to eligible recipients. If you are unsure whether a specific programme qualifies, please contact our Donor Care team for guidance.
Is my food aid donation tax deductible?
Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa is a registered Section 18A organisation (NPO 043-357-NPO). All qualifying donations are tax deductible under South African law. Upon request, we will issue you with a Section 18A tax certificate that you can submit to SARS when filing your annual tax return. Please ensure you provide your full name, ID number or tax number, and email address when making your donation so that we can issue your certificate promptly.
How do you decide who receives food aid?
Beneficiaries are identified through a structured community needs assessment process carried out by our field teams in partnership with local community leaders and partner organisations. Priority is given to households experiencing the greatest levels of food insecurity, including households headed by women, elderly individuals, or persons with disabilities, as well as families with young children or orphans. All beneficiary data is verified before distributions take place to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it most.
Does Islamic Relief South Africa only provide food during Ramadan?
No. While Ramadan is our largest food distribution period due to the generosity of donors during the sacred month, Islamic Relief South Africa provides food assistance throughout the year. This includes emergency food relief in response to floods, fires, and other disasters, Qurbani meat distributions during Dhul Hijjah, regular food parcels for orphan-headed households, and long-term agricultural and food security programmes that operate year-round. Hunger does not follow a calendar, and neither does our response.
How much of my donation actually reaches the people in need?
Islamic Relief is committed to maximising the impact of every donation. According to our published figures, 86 cents of every rand donated reaches the people we serve. The remainder covers essential operational costs such as field staff salaries, logistics, monitoring and evaluation, and organisational administration, all of which are necessary to ensure that programmes are delivered effectively, safely, and accountably.
Can I sponsor a food pack for a specific family or community?
Yes. You can donate towards a specific food programme, such as Ramadan food packs or emergency food relief, by using the relevant reference when making your bank transfer or selecting the appropriate fund when donating online at donate.islamic-relief.org.za. While we are not always able to link a single donation to a single family due to the pooled nature of our distributions, your contribution will be directed to the programme of your choice. For larger sponsorships or corporate food drives, please contact us on 021 696 0145 to discuss tailored options.
How do I donate to food aid?
You can donate to our food programmes in the following ways:
Bank Transfer: Standard Bank | Account Name: Islamic Relief SA | Branch: Fordsburg | Branch Code: 005205 | Account No: 005318459 | Swift: SBZAZAJJ | Reference: Food Aid + your mobile number.
Online: Visit donate.islamic-relief.org.za and select the Food Aid fund.
Phone: Call us on 021 696 0145 or toll-free on 0800 111 898 and our Donor Care team will assist you.
Email: Send your query to info@islamic-relief.org.za and we will get back to you promptly.