In the past year over 900,000 people had to be given emergency food supplies, an increase of 163%, according to food bank charity Trussell Trust.
A coalition of over 20 anti-poverty charities including the Trussell Trust and the Child Poverty Action Group have signed a statement which claims the UK is violating the human right to food and therefore breaching international law.
Religious leaders are also getting involved, with 600 church leaders from all major denominations writing a letter to the Government in the hopes of action being taken to address the situation.
The letter, which states that Lent has been “a time of sorrowful reflection” on the huge rise of those using food banks, will mark the biggest Christian intervention on UK poverty in modern times.
Trussell Trust chairman Chris Mould said the figures were ‘shocking’ in 21st-century Britain.
The report found that ‘increasingly harsh’ government sanctions were to blame for the soaring numbers of people going hungry.
The shadow Work and Pensions secretary, Rachel Reeve said: “Food banks have become a shameful symbol of David Cameron’s government’s failure to tackle the cost of living crisis. Ministers must take urgent action to fix the broken system.”
A public vigil will be held opposite Parliament at 6pm today by members of the End Hunger Fast campaign.
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