Relief Granted to 500 Individuals in Malaysia by Life for Relief and Development USA (LIFE)’s Ramadan Food Basket Project

Malaysia has achieved some considerable development over the past few decades. Reducing the average absolute poverty faced by its population from about 50% in 1970 to just 6% by 2022, Malaysia stands as a beacon of success and positive change in the 21^st century.

Despite this commendable progress, a substantial proportion of citizens still struggle to make ends meet.  As of recent years, about 1 in 6 people in Malaysia experience some form of food insecurity.  

With over 30% of workers earning below two-thirds of the median wage, many cannot afford nutritious or sufficient food. In fact, 90% of low-income households consistently reduce their food intake due to the rising prices of groceries. This chronic inaccessibility to adequate nutrition affects the physical wellbeing of families, specifically impacting childhood development. In regard to the most vulnerable members of society, above 20% of children in Malaysia are stunted and 14.1% are underweight, indicating chronic nutritional challenges.

Due to a combination of food inflation and a dependency on importing the majority of its food, Malaysia’s population experience disruptions to both food availability and affordability. 42% of residents report financial struggles to buy food, while 46% lacked access to nutrient-dense diets. For the Rohingya refugees that have sought refuge in Malaysia, the threat of food insecurity is especially high, with 95% of those surveyed having experienced limited access to adequate and nutritious food.

To alleviate the food insecurity faced by these vulnerable individuals in time for Ramadan, Life for Relief and Development USA (LIFE) distributed 110 Ramadan food baskets from February 15, 2025, to March 13, 2025. Directly reaching 500 individuals, the beneficiaries were from the neediest within Paya Jaras Kampung, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia, with food boxes provided to 40 families from the Rohingya refugee community.

The recipients were accustomed to relying on the kindness of strangers in an effort to survive. During Ramadan, they depended on their nearest mosque to provide their main meal as they were unable to afford a complete meal each day. To support these families, LIFE provided them with Ramadan essentials such as eggs, canned fish, rice, noodles, flour, pasta, cooking oil, and nutritional drinks for children.

Each food basket delivered immediate direct relief to the beneficiaries. In providing guaranteed meals for Ramadan, families were protected from the mental, physical and emotional toll inflicted by food insecurity.

However, the food charity received by the vulnerable families provided much more than relief – it was a source of warmth and comfort for those accustomed to hardship.

For a local husband and wife, the delivery of the Ramadan Food basket to their cramped home was a gesture of kindness and generosity that brought smiles to their faces. With both suffering from severe health issues, many sacrifices had to be made by the family due to their inability to produce an income. The food basket provided much-needed relief from their daily struggles and freed them to recover and focus on their health.