Ration card holders still waiting for Ramadan grant

Halfway through Ramadan, ration card holders across Egypt are still waiting for the exceptional grant announced by Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk in February.

The grant — set at LE125 per card for households with one child and LE250 for those with two children — was meant to be distributed for two months starting in Ramadan, benefiting around 10 million families nationwide. But so far there is no sign of the funds.

Two sources in the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce’s General Grocery Divisions in Cairo and Luxor confirmed that the grant is yet to be released, telling Mada Masr they have not received any instructions on its disbursement.

Earlier this month, MP Samira al-Gazzar asked Prime Minister Mostafa Madbuly and Supply Minister Sherif Farouk to explain the delay in the grant’s disbursal, after receiving numerous complaints from her constituents.

"First, how can the prime minister announce increases without implementing them?” she asked.

“Second, failing to act on his statement is both an insult to his authority and a disregard for the public. Third, why didn’t the government secure the necessary funds before making the announcement? And fourth, who will compensate these vulnerable families for the disappointment and embarrassment caused by the absence of the promised increase?" the MP concluded.

The Supply Ministry previously denied responsibility for the grant’s delay, telling Mada Masr that it was not the issuing authority. Meanwhile, Finance Ministry spokesperson Ibtisam Saad only said: "The ministry has nothing to announce at this time."

The head of the Grocery Division in Giza told Mada Masr earlier this month that a ministry official had said they were working on adjusting the distribution system to facilitate the grant’s payment "without causing issues."

"People accuse us [retailers] of stealing the funds,” the source added. “The Finance Ministry should have coordinated with the Supply Ministry before announcing the grant to avoid fueling public frustration."

Additional grants for recipients of other forms of social support, such as irregular workers’ grants and the Takaful and Karama program, are also delayed in distribution.