Refugees – Hanover – panels: food vouchers for Ukraine refugees – politics
Hanover (dpa / lni) – In order to provide refugees from Ukraine in Lower Saxony with food in the best possible way, the food banks in the state are proposing that the municipalities issue vouchers for a limited period of time. many refugees registered the 106 Lower Saxony food banks at the moment, said the chairman of the state association of food banks in Lower Saxony and Bremen, Uwe Lampe, on Saturday of the German Press Agency. “That’s a big problem for us.” Some Tafel have already signaled that they can no longer accept new customers because they can no longer guarantee the supply of all customers. From the Tafel’s point of view, food vouchers would help to ensure the basic needs of the refugees.
The panels want help from the municipalities. War refugees can apply for benefits under the Asylum Seekers Act at the social welfare offices. “If the municipalities spend part of the money as food vouchers, then there is less pressure for all customers to come to us,” said Lampe. In this way, the refugees could also obtain basic supplies from supermarkets and discounters. At the moment, however, social welfare offices often advise them to go directly to the panels. “That’s why we now have a significant rush,” said Lampe.
“We as Tafeln are not there to cover basic needs. But we only cover what comes on top,” emphasized the state chairman. Like all other customers, the people from the Ukraine are welcome at the Tafel to provide themselves with the food that they still lack in addition to the basic supplies. According to the association, around 150,000 people meet regularly at the Lower Saxony food banks.
Lampe also made it clear that the amount of food distributed by the Tafel could not be increased in the short term. “The food banks pick up the groceries from the markets according to a fixed plan and that cannot be increased.” From the producers themselves, who also donate products to the Tafel, little or nothing is currently arriving at the Tafel, said Lampe – for example because these donations are delivered directly to Ukraine.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220409-99-861946/2