06:00, 11 March 2026
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
As the sun sets each evening during Ramadan, millions of people across the world gather to break their fast. For many, Iftar is a familiar ritual: bread passed around the table, a warm meal shared with family, and a moment of gratitude at the end of a long day.
But in places shaped by conflict, displacement and poverty, that simple act of gathering for a meal can feel almost impossible.
This Ramadan, the British humanitarian charity Human Appeal is attempting to change that reality for hundreds of thousands of people. Through a series of large-scale “Grand Iftar” events across seven countries, the organisation provided more than 250,000 hot meals to vulnerable communities.
The Grand Iftars are being held across Gaza, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, areas where years of instability have made everyday life precarious. According to the charity, the programme will reach 250,302 people during the holy month.
In Sudan, where conflict has driven one of the world’s largest displacement crises, seven events alone have served over 31,000 people.
In Gaza, more than 12,000 internally displaced people are attending a major communal Iftar, many of whom are living in overcrowded displacement sites with limited access to food, fuel, clean water or electricity.
These gatherings provide something many families in crisis zones lack: a freshly prepared hot meal and a safe space to eat it.
Across many displacement sites, families simply do not have the means to cook. Food prices have soared, supply chains remain disrupted, and communal areas are often unsafe or non-existent. For households led by women, elderly residents, or people living with disabilities, the barriers are even greater.
A structured Iftar event — with organised seating, crowd management and culturally familiar Ramadan traditions — offers more than nourishment. It restores a small but vital sense of normality.
Humanitarian work is often framed in numbers: tonnes of food delivered, shelters built, beneficiaries reached. Those figures matter, particularly when needs are so vast.
Yet Ramadan programmes like these remind us that relief work also has an emotional dimension.
“Ramadan is a time of reflection, generosity and unity,” says Mohamed Chahtane, Head of Global Supply Chain at Human Appeal. “For families enduring displacement and hardship, being able to break their fast together in safety and dignity is profoundly meaningful.”
Recreating even a fragment of that experience for people living in crisis can provide a sense of belonging that humanitarian assistance sometimes struggles to capture.
To support the work of Human Appeal, consider donating to one of their fundraisers here.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Human Appeal. This is a British humanitarian charity that provides immediate emergency relief, food and shelter to those affected by natural disasters and conflict worldwide. Learn more here.
Islamic Relief Worldwide. Operating in over 40 countries, this charity provides life-saving emergency aid and long-term development support. Discover their work here.
Muslim Aid. This charity humanitarian assistance across Africa, Asia, and Europe, focusing on sustainable livelihoods and emergency relief for those affected by conflict or disaster. During Ramadan, they also host a ‘Feed the Fasting Programme’ . Find out more here.
Photo Credit: Human Appeal
