<p>Cairo: For the past five years, Egyptian Laila Abdel Maksoud and her family have run a charity offering free meals during the holy month of Ramadan, serving more and more people even as soaring inflation has driven up costs for the organization.</p><p>Maksoud said they first started out with 500 meals, but this year they've surpassed 4,000 as millions of Egyptians struggle to cope with record inflation.</p><p>A severe shortage of foreign currency exacerbated by global factors including a drop in Suez Canal revenue has hobbled the economy over the last two years.</p>.Indonesian Muslims sign up for tattoo removal 'to repent' during Ramadan.<p>Despite investments from Gulf countries and a financial package from the IMF last month, Egyptians and charities still feel the pinch from soaring prices.</p><p>"Every year it's becoming more expensive and with the current conditions, we don't know where we're heading, but we intend to continue," Maksoud said.</p><p>Similarly, Ahmed Farouk, administrative director of the charity Ummat Al-Habib Association that provides families stipends and meals, said costs have surged six-fold, sending more people into poverty.</p><p>"There's a category of people who previously didn't come (to receive meals), now they started coming," he said. </p><p>"I can confirm wholeheartedly that Egypt is moving only because of its people's good intentions."</p>
<p>Cairo: For the past five years, Egyptian Laila Abdel Maksoud and her family have run a charity offering free meals during the holy month of Ramadan, serving more and more people even as soaring inflation has driven up costs for the organization.</p><p>Maksoud said they first started out with 500 meals, but this year they've surpassed 4,000 as millions of Egyptians struggle to cope with record inflation.</p><p>A severe shortage of foreign currency exacerbated by global factors including a drop in Suez Canal revenue has hobbled the economy over the last two years.</p>.Indonesian Muslims sign up for tattoo removal 'to repent' during Ramadan.<p>Despite investments from Gulf countries and a financial package from the IMF last month, Egyptians and charities still feel the pinch from soaring prices.</p><p>"Every year it's becoming more expensive and with the current conditions, we don't know where we're heading, but we intend to continue," Maksoud said.</p><p>Similarly, Ahmed Farouk, administrative director of the charity Ummat Al-Habib Association that provides families stipends and meals, said costs have surged six-fold, sending more people into poverty.</p><p>"There's a category of people who previously didn't come (to receive meals), now they started coming," he said. </p><p>"I can confirm wholeheartedly that Egypt is moving only because of its people's good intentions."</p>