Demand for food aid in Germany has increased by 50 percent

The German aid organization Tafel Deutschland drew attention to rising poverty, stating they can no longer meet the growing demand, and called on politicians to take action.

The organization’s director, Andreas Steppuhn, said: “From the numbers and the demand, we can see that the number of people affected by poverty across Germany is steadily increasing. This service, which provides food donations that would normally be thrown away, serves as a kind of seismograph for poverty in Germany.”

Steppuhn also noted that food donations to the organization have declined over the same period and added that there is no sign of improvement in the near future.

There are 974 Tafel branches across Germany. They collect surplus food from producers and supermarkets and distribute it to the poor either for free or at a very low cost.

1.5 million people in Germany regularly benefit from food aid. Of these:

• Half receive the citizen’s allowance (Bürgergeld)

• About one-third are children and young people

• 18 percent are pensioners

• Another 18 percent are refugees

  
  

Source: KNA, epd / SÖ, BK / DW