- What do poverty statistics in the UK show?
- What was the reason for the closure of food banks in the past few days?
- What have British charities warned about the Spread of hunger in the UK?
- What is the reason charities and food banks cannot provide the food with the poor need?
The Spread of hunger in the UK is severe. The UK government declared Monday a holiday during Elizabeth’s funeral. Thus, the doors of many food banks from London to Cardiff and Southampton to Edinburgh were closed to the poor, and food distribution ceremonies were not held. Everyone knows that the Spread of hunger in the UK is dangerous.
High poverty statistics in the UK
The Spread of hunger in the UK is the result of poverty. According to published statistics, about 2.17 million British people depend on food banks for their livelihood. Elizabeth’s funeral was expected to cost the government 6 billion pounds during the cost of living crisis in the UK; statistics show that 11.7 million people live in relative poverty, of which 3.2 Million are children. Of course, this figure reaches 14.5 million people, considering the high cost of housing.
Closure of food banks
The closure of food banks leads to the Spread of hunger in the UK. But the closure of food banks and the cancellation of hospital appointments on Monday provoked the protest of many British, who consider it an undemocratic practice. In cyberspace, users protested the closure of food banks and cancellation of medical appointments and interpreted it as hateful. Food banks will be closed, and Food Banks will cancel cancer appointments. Parliament will also be closed for four weeks amid the cost of living crisis.
Spread of starvation among the British
The spokesperson of a foundation supporting the poor named Trussell Trust defended the organization’s decision to close on Monday and advised needy people to check their working hours before going to food banks. This is while the volume of food banks’ livelihood assistance is such that households face serious problems feeding themselves under normal conditions. However, experts predict that closing businesses on Monday will cost the British economy billions of pounds.
British charities alert
The Spread of hunger in the UK has led to the alarm of charities. A charity has warned that Britons will have to choose between starving and freezing this winter amid a rise in life crises. The Citizens Advice Scotland institute warned about the tough choice for the British people in the upcoming winter. The charity said: “That inflation is expected to stay high for much of 2023 and the looming prospect of a recession means this crisis isn’t going anywhere, risking a legacy of debt, poverty and destitution for years and years to come.”
Increasing food insecurity of the British
The latest survey by Citizens Advice Scotland shows a significant growth in food and energy insecurity and increasing concerns. This survey shows that the people of the UK are probably facing frostbite or hunger this winter; Of course, vulnerable groups are at greater risk. In addition, disabled and unemployed people face a more severe challenge. The charity also announced that one out of every 10 cases of advice given to people to manage living expenses required a visit to a food bank.
The increase in demand hinders the supply of food to the hungry.
Food banks across the UK have warned that rising demand will prevent food for the country’s hungriest families this winter. The Guardian wrote that food banks across the UK have warned of a “completely unsustainable” rise that will prevent hungry families from being fed this winter. The organizations representing 169 food banks told The Guardian that the number of people seeking emergency help had risen significantly and predicted a dark and harrowing week.
Reduction in food donation levels since April
Almost 70 percent of these organizations said they might have to turn down requests or reduce the size of emergency rations this winter. Despite increased demand, nearly three-quarters said food donation levels had fallen since April. The warning comes amid alarming new forecasts of rising inflation and mounting pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s successor, Liz Truss, to show how she plans to tackle the cost of living emergency.
Increased costs of farmers after the Ukrainian war
The figures showed that food prices rose by 5.1 percent in August as the war in Ukraine raised costs for farmers. Inflation in stores was driven by a 10.5% increase in fresh food prices, according to new data from the UK Retail Consortium and market research firm NielsenIQ. This is the highest inflation rate since September 2008, when the world financial system was on the verge of collapse.
22% inflation forecast for next year
US investment bank Goldman Sachs also warned that if wholesale energy prices remain at current high levels, inflation in the UK could reach 22% next year. This figure was close to the post-war record in 1975.
Disaster awaits the British
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “When even food banks are warning they may need to shut up shop this winter because they can’t meet the demand, we know the country is heading for a catastrophe without action.” Almost 90% of organizations representing 169 food banks said demand had increased since April, with 87% saying supply problems had hurt them, the Independent Food Aid Network UK (Ifan UK) survey found.
Increasing conflicts with the royal system
Queen Elizabeth II of the UK died last Thursday at 96 in Balmoral Palace, Scotland. Statistics show that nearly a quarter of the British want the end of the monarchy in this country. The findings of the YouGov polling institute show that 25 percent of British people do not consider the continuation of the monarchy appropriate for the country, and the number of supporters of the monarchy has decreased since June 2020.
These developments are at a time when the unprecedented inflation index and the unbridled increase in the cost of living in the UK have put the island in the worst economic conditions of the last half-century. Before the Ukraine war, Experts predicted that the inflation rate would be 2% despite the pressures caused by Brexit and the Covid-19 crisis. But inflation was reported at 9.9% last month and is expected to reach 15% by the end of the year.
