Food Insecurity Countered by Life for Relief and Development USA (LIFE)’s Aid to almost 5,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Families in Mogadishu, Somalia

For billions around the globe, Ramadan is a time of giving and charity. United by the shared feeling of fasting and sacrifice, one of the most beloved acts is to feed a fellow fasting person at the time of iftar (sundown). These dinners, which celebrate the moment of breaking one's fast, hold a profound place in the culture and community of Muslims. 

Unfortunately, poverty and food insecurity act as obstacles to this moment of accomplishment, where individuals should be able to rejoice at the end of another fasting day, worry takes over as they feel burdened with the weight of securing an evening meal.  

For 4.3 million people in Somalia, acute food insecurity makes this concern their daily norm, with 69% of the population living in a state of poverty. Somalia’s capital city of Mogadishu is where poverty and food insecurity are most concentrated. Residents deal with one of the highest costs of living in the country, with households spending 65–75% of their income on food as food basket prices are 25–30% higher than rural averages.  

As a result of these elevated costs, 1 in 3 Mogadishu households face considerable levels of food insecurity. Unfortunately, the most vulnerable members of society struggle to survive in this unaffordable climate, as Mogadishu hosts over 600,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), resulting in a high population density that makes residents especially vulnerable to food price volatility. 

75% of Mogadishu’s IDPs live below the international poverty line and have been displaced multiple times in their lifetime. One area where poverty levels are severe, affecting 80% of households, is the town of Garisbaley, on the outskirts of Mogadishu. Hosting tens of thousands of IDPs, this region sees most households skipping meals or reducing portion sizes to survive, as up to 90% of households depend on humanitarian food charity or cash assistance. 

To support these vulnerable individuals, Life for Relief and Development USA (LIFE) carried out its Ramadan iftar Dinner project alongside MannaPack Rice distribution to the most vulnerable members of communities in Mogadishu and Garisbaley. Throughout March, five Iftar dinners were catered specifically to orphans living in orphanages, with families, and those who are IDPs throughout Mogadishu, reaching 1250 families. Further support was offered to orphans in Garisbaley, through the rice distribution project that was delivered to 615 households on March 22, 2025. 

LIFE’s food initiatives primarily focused on providing nourishment to needy orphans and their families throughout Ramadan. Each iftar dinner offered a substantial quantity of ready-to-eat meals, offering a variety of nutritional value in the form of rice, proteins, samosas, burgers, fruits, dates, juices and water. With dinners held at local schools, orphanages, mosques and IDP camps, those most affected by food insecurity were directly reached.    

As for LIFE’s MannaPack Rice distribution, this alleviated much of the suffering experienced by orphans and families with vulnerable children who suffer from acute food insecurity in Garisbaley.  

The impact that your generosity and the efforts of LIFE’s staff had is perfectly captured in the story of the young orphan, Ali. Ali was left alone in the world, struggling to make ends meet as he lost his parents to violence. Stumbling upon LIFE’s community orphanage Iftar dinner, he was welcomed with open arms. This meal helped him find a new family in the center. Finding a long-lost sense of belonging and support, he was able to invest in rebuilding his life.  

However, the reach of your donations and LIFE’s projects does not stop at the beneficiaries and their families. The displaced community, accustomed to suffering and scarcity, had created a support system built on recipient families willingly sharing their rations. This turned individual servings of food into communal meals that cultivated a sense of belonging and shared experience.  

Ultimately, your kindness and care, along with LIFE’s food projects, had evolved into a crucial lifeline, empowering these vulnerable families to not only endure but to thrive collectively.