About the Associated Project
Project Title: Iftar Project Sudan: Feeding Fasting Families Through the Holy Month
Organization: Dara Development Organization (DRA)
Project Overview:
As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, millions of displaced and vulnerable families across Sudan face a devastating reality: they will observe the fast with little to no food for iftar. For those who have lost everything to conflict, displacement, and economic collapse, the blessed month brings not joy, but the crushing anxiety of how to feed their children when the sun sets .
In Sudan, a mother named Samake shared how the Ramadan food assistance she received previously brought great relief to her family. Her children were excited to see the aid, and for the first time, they were able to enjoy their meals without having to share small portions as they usually did. The assistance was not just food, but a sense of relief—she no longer had to worry about what her family would eat the next day .
This is the reality for millions. Dara Development Organization (DRA) , established in 2007 and registered with Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission, is launching its Iftar Project Sudan to ensure that fasting families—displaced persons, orphans, widows, the elderly, and the most vulnerable—can break their fast with dignity, nourishment, and hope throughout the month of Ramadan.
The Crisis: Ramadan Amidst Catastrophe
Sudan is facing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. More than 21 million people face acute hunger . Over 14 million people—including 14 million children—struggle to find their next meal . Famine has been confirmed in many regions . Mothers are trying to fast while their children need food they don't have . People are drinking unsafe water because clean water costs money they don't have .
For displaced families living in camps with no income, no savings, and no way to buy food, Ramadan is not a temporary hardship. For many, this is year two of displacement with no end in sight .
The need is overwhelming, and organizations across the humanitarian sector are mobilizing:
Sadagaat USA operates 45+ central kitchens serving daily meals in displacement camps where families have no other food source, reaching 5 million iftar meals served last year alone, feeding 195,000 fasting people daily, and delivering 6,319 families received Ramadan food baskets
Qatar Charity's Iftar project, running in Sudan for nearly three decades, distributes Ramadan food baskets to 14,280 beneficiaries across Red Sea, Kassala, and Nile River States, supporting orphaned families, displaced people, and vulnerable families with essential food supplies tailored to Sudanese dietary needs during Ramadan
Islamic Relief Malaysia's MySedekah Ramadan initiative provides food packs containing rice, flour, grains, legumes, canned meat, cooking oil, sugar, tea, and dates to families in Sudan, Palestine, and Malaysia
Türkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV) delivers food, iftar, and Eid clothes to 48,000 people in Sudan, including war victims, with 6,350 food packages distributed in Atbara alone, reaching around 31,000 beneficiaries plus 15,000 iftar meals and 2,000 children receiving Eid clothing
Al-Daein Youth Initiative in East Darfur State celebrates 10 years of providing Ramadan breakfast to patients and caregivers at Al-Daein Teaching Hospital, recently expanding to serve displaced people at Al Khansaa Center, providing Iftar to about 500 families throughout the month
Dara Development Organization's Response:
Building on these proven models and DRA's established presence working with communities affected by natural and man-made disasters , our Iftar Project Sudan will deliver comprehensive Ramadan food assistance to vulnerable families across targeted communities.
Project Components:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Central Kitchens | Operation of community kitchens preparing fresh, nutritious hot iftar meals daily, following the successful model of organizations running 45+ central kitchens in displacement camps . Meals are culturally appropriate, reflecting Sudanese food traditions during Ramadan. |
| Ramadan Food Baskets | Distribution of family food packages containing essential items tailored to Sudanese dietary needs during Ramadan: rice, flour, grains, legumes, canned meat, cooking oil, sugar, tea, dates, and other staples . Each basket supports a family for the entire month. |
| Iftar Meal Distribution | Direct delivery of hot iftar meals to displaced families in camps, shelters, hospitals (patients and caregivers), and community gathering points, following models like the Al-Daein Youth Initiative serving patients and displaced persons . |
| Suhoor Support | Provision of food items suitable for pre-dawn meals, ensuring families can maintain the fast with proper nourishment. |
| Eid Clothing for Children | Distribution of new Eid clothing to orphaned and vulnerable children, bringing joy and dignity to Eid celebrations, following successful models like TDV's program reaching 2,000 children . |
| Zakat Al-Fitr Distribution | Targeted distribution of Zakat Al-Fitr to eligible recipients (fuqara and masakin—those who can't provide for themselves) as the blessed month concludes . |
| Udhiya/Qurbani Meat Distribution | Provision of fresh meat to families for Eid al-Adha celebrations, following successful food distribution models . |
Target Beneficiaries:
The Iftar Project Sudan prioritizes the most vulnerable populations, explicitly eligible for Zakat and Sadaqah under Islamic law :
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps and informal settlements with no income, no savings, and no way to buy food
Orphans and orphan-headed households, both sponsored and unsponsored
Widows and female-headed households with limited support
Elderly individuals with no family caregivers
Patients and caregivers in hospitals, following the Al-Daein model serving those confined to medical facilities during Ramadan
Families in extreme poverty with no stable income
Communities in famine-confirmed regions where hunger has reached catastrophic levels
Geographic Focus:
Building on DRA's established presence and partnerships, initial project implementation will prioritize:
States and localities where DRA has existing relationships and trust
Displacement camps with highest concentrations of vulnerable families
Communities in famine-confirmed regions with urgent food needs
Areas identified through coordination with government institutions and humanitarian partners
Expected Outcomes:
Thousands of hot iftar meals served daily throughout Ramadan to fasting families
Hundreds of Ramadan food baskets distributed, providing month-long food security
Reduced hunger and food insecurity among targeted vulnerable populations
Restored dignity and normalcy for displaced families during the holy month
Joy and celebration for orphaned children through Eid clothing distributions
Strengthened community solidarity and compassion
Fulfillment of Zakat obligations for donors, with all recipients verified as meeting Zakat eligibility criteria
Spiritual reward for donors multiplied during the blessed month, fulfilling the Prophet's promise that "whoever provides food for a fasting person to break his fast will have a reward like his, without detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest"
Verification and Accountability:
DRA is committed to transparency and ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most. All recipients are verified as meeting eligibility criteria before distribution, following established humanitarian standards and Islamic principles for Zakat and Sadaqah distribution .
Partnerships and Collaboration:
DRA will coordinate with:
Federal and State Ministries of Health and Social Affairs
Humanitarian Aid Commission
Other humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan
Local community-based organizations and volunteer initiatives
Mosques and religious institutions for community outreach
The Spiritual Significance:
As Sadagaat USA emphasizes, "Your Zakat is meant for the fuqara and masakin – people who can't provide for themselves. That's 14 million people in Sudan right now, living in camps with no income, no savings, and no way to buy food" .
When you give to DRA's Iftar Project Sudan, your donation goes directly to verified eligible recipients: displaced families with no income, patients who can't afford treatment, orphans with no one to provide for them, and communities with no food access .
Give in the holiest month. Multiply your blessings tenfold .
Your Contribution:
$50 - Iftar meals for 10 fasting families (one meal each)
$70 - Complete Ramadan food package for one household, providing what they need to get through Ramadan—iftar, suhoor, and the basics
$100 - Hot iftar meals for 20 families
$250 - Food basket for one family for the entire month
$500 - Support a community iftar for 100 people
$1,000 - Sponsor a central kitchen for one week, serving hundreds daily
$2,500 - Eid clothing for 100 orphaned children
$5,000 - Comprehensive Ramadan support for an entire village (food baskets, iftar meals, Eid clothing)
Fidya and Kaffarah:
For those unable to fast due to illness, travel, or other valid reasons, or for those who have missed or broken fasts:
$12 - Fidya feeds one person in need for one missed fast
$720 - Kaffarah feeds 60 people for one intentionally broken fast (based on $12 × 60 meals)
Call to Action:
Thousands of families are waiting for a helping hand this Ramadan . With DRA's Iftar Project Sudan, your donation can provide more than just food; it offers comfort, hope, and dignity .
Act now and be the reason a family in Sudan can break their fast with a smile .
Huda al-Amin, a mother of orphans in Sheikha Aisha City who received Ramadan food assistance, expressed what your support means: "The food basket I received contained all the necessary items and arrived at a crucial time. We pray that Allah rewards the generous donors for their kindness" .
Join Dara Development Organization this Ramadan. Help us set a place at the iftar table for those who need it most.