Nearly 90% of those surveyed saw demand soar, according to the Independent Food Aid Network
UK food banks are overwhelmed by a “unprecedented” rising demand amid double-digit inflation and a cost-of-living crisis, new research shows.
According to the survey published on Sunday by the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN), an institution bringing together more than 550 independent food banks, 89% of organizations have noted an increase in the number of people seeking support in December and January compared to the same period. one year ago.
Additionally, more than 80% of food banks reported that many Britons seeking help were doing so for the first time in their lives. Around 50% of the organizations surveyed also said that if demand increased, they would be forced to reduce the volume of aid or refuse some applicants altogether.
The document attributes these developments mainly to the increase in the cost of living. These were spurred by soaring inflation and soaring energy prices, exacerbated by the sanctions the West imposed on Russia following the Ukraine conflict. Other reasons include inadequate salaries and the waiting time required to receive an initial social security payment from the authorities, as well as withholdings from benefits.
Warning that the current situation is ” unsustainable “, IFAN has urged the UK government to increase social assistance to meet rising daily costs and to eliminate the five-week waiting period to receive a first social security check.
While UK inflation has slowed somewhat in recent months, in January it still stood at 10.1%. At the same time, food inflation reached 16.7% in the same month.
In this context, earlier this month the National Institute for Economic and Social Research claimed that UK households were suffering from a “permanent” decline in the standard of living during the crisis. He also warned that seven million UK households – or one in four – would not be able to fully cover their energy and food bills from April, when the government begins to cut its subsidy scheme.
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