Agadir – Each year as Ramadan approaches, Morocco launches one of its largest national solidarity efforts, a food support operation designed to ease the burden on vulnerable families during the holy month.
This year, King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, launched the “Ramadan 1447” national solidarity operation yesterday in Sale.
Organized under the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, the initiative benefits 4.3 million people across the country.
Why this initiative takes place every Ramadan
Every year, vulnerable and low-income communities throughout Morocco face financial strain which can lead to food shortages.
The Ramadan solidarity operation was first launched in 1998 to address this challenge. Over 28 years, it has grown into a structured national program aimed at supporting families in vulnerable situations, promoting a culture of mutual aid and ensuring dignity for elderly people, widows, and persons with disabilities.
The 2026 edition has a budget of MAD 305 million and includes the distribution of 34,550 tons of essential food products. These food baskets typically contain flour, milk, rice, oil, sugar, tomato paste, pasta, lentils, and tea, basic staples that help families meet daily needs throughout the fasting month.
What distinguishes recent editions of the initiative is the reliance on Morocco’s Unified Social Register (RSU). For the second consecutive year, beneficiary households were identified using this national socio-economic database.
This system ensures that assistance reaches those who meet clearly defined vulnerability criteria. It also allows authorities to update beneficiary lists across 1,304 municipalities nationwide, improving transparency and precision in distribution.
Critical timing
Morocco’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.3 % in January 2026 compared with the previous month, largely due to climbing food prices, according to data from the High Commission for Planning.
This increase reflects an 0.8 % rise in the food price component, while non-food product prices edged slightly lower. The increase in food costs, which contributes directly to household budgets, adds pressure on families at a time when demand increases during Ramadan.
Higher prices for essential goods such as food staples are one of the factors prompting government mechanisms like price monitoring and support programs in an effort to safeguard purchasing power and prevent undue strain on vulnerable consumers.
In this regard, authorities have reactivated the 5757 consumer complaints hotline so that citizens can report issues such as price gouging, supply shortages, and unfair commercial practices during the holy month.