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2024 : Some people are still hungry and cold today. Poverty persists unabated.

October 2024

The year 2024 has been marked by an unprecedented increase in meals distributed by the Restos du Cœur in Belgium. More specifically, a total of 835,500 meals distributed in the first half of this year, 27,250 more than in the second half of 2023. This figure underscores a sad reality: food insecurity and poverty continue to rise in our country.

Against a background where inequalities are getting entrenched, and as inflation is making access to essential needs increasingly difficult, the Restos du Cœur have become a vital refuge for thousands of families, young people, and elderly individuals. The 21 Restos du Cœur across Belgium are endeavouring to meet these essential needs day after day by providing not only meals but also crucial human support and social assistance and guidance.

16 October: World Food Day - Taking action for fair access to food

On 16 October 2024, World Food Day, everyone’s attention must be drawn to one fundamental issue: access to healthy and balanced food.

Despite overproduction and waste of food in Europe, in 2024, access to decent food remains a challenge for a large segment of the population in Belgium. More and more families are forced to choose between eating properly or paying for other essential needs, such as housing or energy. This deeply unjust dilemma stresses the urgent need for action.

Through their daily efforts, the Restos du Cœur in Belgium are striving to fight against this inequality. They not only distribute meals but also make sure that their nutritional quality is such so as to meet the needs of those who rely on them. Every individual is entitled to dignified and healthy food, and we all have a role to play to guarantee this universal access.

17 October: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

This day resonates ever so particularly with the realities of 2024. It aims to shed light on the various forms of poverty that affect our society and the millions of people who face them each and every day.

This year, the Restos du Cœur in Belgium have observed, more than ever before, an increase in requests for assistance from those who seem invisible in society’s eyes: the working poor, young people without stable employment, single-parent families, and retirees. Poverty spares no one, and food aid has become a necessity for many households.

The fight against poverty is a collective responsibility, and we call on everyone to make a commitment according to their means.

In 2024, our mission is more crucial than ever: to offer not only meals but also social and moral guidance and support, and to make the injustice of poverty visible. Behind every meal is a person with a story and a struggle, and our role is to offer him or her hope for a better future.

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