ANP extension
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More and more people are knocking on the food bank’s door, according to data from the umbrella organization Voedselbanken Nederland. At the end of November, a record 120,000 people turned to food banks for help. That’s 30 percent more than at the beginning of this year, says the umbrella organization’s Tom Hillemans.
According to him, the largest increase was recorded in October and November. Until then, the increase compared to January 1, 2022 was around 5 percent. After that, the number of people knocking on the door of food banks skyrocketed. However, according to Hillemans, the increase varies by food bank.
The increase is caused by rising energy costs combined with high inflation, Hillemans says after reporting NRC extension. “It’s a buildup.” According to him, many people with gainful employment are now getting into trouble due to rising costs. During the corona crisis, when many people were also using the food bank, it was mostly self-employed people knocking on the door.
What probably also has an influence is the expansion of the standard amount with which people have access to the food bank. As a result, more people have been able to withdraw an aid package since September. “But we estimate the effect of the energy crisis and inflation to be greater,” Hillemans says.
