Thousands of families in the United Kingdom impacted by COVID-19 are to receive “one-off…emergency” food assistance from UN Children’s Fund UNICEF over the upcoming holiday period and beyond, it has announced. It is the first time in the organization’s more than 70-year-history that it has stepped in to help the country’s most vulnerable, said Anna Kettley, director of programs at UNICEF UK.
This includes a $34,000 pledge to help deliver breakfast meals to 13,500 children at 25 schools in south London over the two-week Christmas break, and during the February half-term holiday. “This funding will help build stronger communities as the impact of the pandemics worsen”, said Ms Kettley, before calling for a longer-term solution “to tackle the root causes of food poverty, so no child is left to go hungry”. UNICEF described the coronavirus pandemic as “the most urgent crisis affecting children since the Second World War”. Even before the pandemic struck, it said that an estimated 2.4 million UK children were already food-insecure.
UNICEF described the coronavirus pandemic as “the most urgent crisis affecting children since World War II”. Even before the pandemic struck, it said that an estimated 2.4 million UK children were already food-insecure. The situation has worsened since March 2020 and families have struggled to make ends meet and access food, amid a global economic downturn and job losses.
The food support scheme — in conjunction with local partner School Food Matters — builds on a breakfast scheme that was launched earlier this year. It ran for 18 weeks during the lockdown and the summer holidays, providing vital support and nutrition to children in need, UNICEF said. “Community initiatives will play an essential role and through ‘Food Power for Generation Covid’”, said Kettley. “We hope to support families at the local level so that children can continue to eat well during this crisis period.”
The charity will use the funds to support families in Southwark, South London, by delivering food boxes packed with ingredients for 10 nutritious breakfasts. This includes fresh pineapple, oats, desiccated coconut, and rice in addition to wholemeal bread, baked beans and milk. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman added: ‘We would point to the substantial action we’ve taken to ensure that children don’t go hungry through the pandemic and I would point to the additional £16 million we pledged not too long ago to food distribution charities.’ The Unicef grant will ensure families in need are provided with the boxes over the two week Christmas holidays, while an additional 6,750 breakfasts will also be distributed over February half term next year.
