MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Hormuud Salaam Foundation has distributed cash grants to vulnerable women and internally displaced people in Mogadishu, marking the 14th consecutive year of its large-scale Ramadan relief program, the organization said Saturday.
The charitable arm of Somalia-based companies Hormuud Telecom and Salaam Somali Bank focused support on the Gaari Dumar Women’s Development Center and the Somali Women and Youth Care Organization as part of its Ramadan Iftar and Support Project for the Needy.
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“Today, we delivered a cash donation to the Women’s Development Center to support their Iftar during this blessed month,” said Abdirahman Ibrahim Elmi, deputy chairman of the foundation. “This is part of a broader commitment to stand by our community’s most vulnerable members.”
The foundation said this year’s initiative will reach more than 67,000 people across Somalia. The assistance, in cash and food supplies, is being delivered to a broad mix of recipients, including those often overlooked in conventional aid pipelines:
- Patients in hospitals
- Inmates in prisons
- Refugees and internally displaced families
- Persons with disabilities
- People with other special needs
At the Somali Women and Youth Care Organization center, the foundation provided financial assistance to underprivileged mothers. Raaxo Hussein Hirsi, deputy chairperson of the foundation, said the project is designed to cover basic household needs so families can observe the holy month with dignity.
Leaders at the Gaari Dumar Women’s Development Center, which offers vocational training to marginalized women, said the support filled a critical gap. Founder Fadumo Mohamed Ali Adle welcomed the aid, noting it was the first time the foundation had reached her facility.
Somalia’s Ramadan season traditionally brings a surge in household expenses as families gather for iftar after sundown. In a country where drought, displacement and underemployment have stretched community safety nets, privately funded initiatives often provide vital stopgaps. The Hormuud Salaam Foundation has built one of the Horn of Africa’s largest private philanthropic footprints, and its Ramadan project has evolved into a recurring source of seasonal relief for thousands of families.
By prioritizing direct cash transfers in addition to food supplies, the initiative gives recipients flexibility to purchase what they need most, from staples to cooking fuel or medicine. Humanitarian groups increasingly favor cash-based aid for its efficiency and dignity, especially in urban areas like Mogadishu where markets function but purchasing power is low.
The foundation did not disclose individual grant sizes, but said distributions are continuing throughout Ramadan and will extend beyond Mogadishu into other regions. Organizers framed the effort as part of a national safety net that complements public and international relief, with an emphasis on reaching women-led households and people facing compounding vulnerabilities.
“Our aim is to ensure that no one is left behind during Ramadan,” Elmi said. “This support is about solidarity and respect for the families we serve.”
As the season continues, local centers like Gaari Dumar and Somali Women and Youth Care are expected to play a central role in identifying needs at the neighborhood level and helping the foundation channel aid quickly where it is most effective.
The Hormuud Salaam Foundation said it will publish updates on coverage areas as distributions proceed across Somalia.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
