Solidarity for those affected by poverty: Tafel campaign inspires Hanover!

Solidarity for those affected by poverty: Tafel campaign inspires Hanover!

In a sign of solidarity, the conclusion of the federal food bank meeting took place today in Hanover. Several hundred people took part in this central event, which had the motto “Long Table”, to collectively take a stand against poverty. The Tafel, a backbone of social support in Germany, have renewed the call for solidarity with people affected by poverty. In his speech, Hanover's mayor Belit Onay emphasized the importance of a solidarity-based society and pointed out that poverty affects many people in Germany. So reported Nettle that the situation has worsened in recent years and more and more people are dependent on the food banks.

A current figure shows how alarming the situation actually is: around 1.5 million people in Germany regularly use food from the food bank. This is an increase of 50 percent on average, a direct influence of inflation and geopolitical crises, explained Deutschlandfunk. The economic difficulties are obvious, and many citizens are not even aware of the extent of poverty in Germany.

The reality of poverty in Germany

Poverty may seem paradoxical in a rich country like Germany, but it remains a central problem. The proportion of the population affected by the relative risk of poverty will be 16.6 percent in 2023. This means that many people have to get by on less than 60 percent of the median income of 1,247 euros per month. Vulnerable groups such as children and older people are particularly affected, where the proportion of people over 65 years of age at risk of poverty rises to an alarming 18.1 percent Statista explained.

Dealing with poverty is supported by a system of financial assistance such as citizen's benefit, which has replaced the old unemployment benefit II since the beginning of 2023. It is intended to ensure that employable people in need of help do not fall under the wheels. In 2023, there were around 5.5 million citizens' benefit recipients who are dependent on a monthly basic security benefit of 563 euros. These numbers illustrate the urgency of the issue.

The reasons for increasing poverty can be varied. Evictions by landlords are a common cause of loss of living space, which not only results in malnutrition but also health and social isolation. In addition, the number of homeless people in Germany was estimated at 607,000 people in 2022, which once again underlines the need for initiatives such as the Tafel.

Today it becomes clear once again that cohesion in our society is more important than ever. The Tafel calls on us to open our eyes to the problem and show solidarity with those who urgently need support. It is up to all of us to take responsibility and take a stand against poverty. Let us lend our ear and our hand to those affected - because we have to stick together, especially in difficult times.