This is a first in the history of Unicef. The UN agency has contributed to a campaign to feed children from households weakened by the Covid-19 epidemic in the United Kingdom. An event which provoked across the Channel, Wednesday, December 16, anger against the government.
The Labor Party (Labor, left), the main opposition party, has ruled “Shameful” that some 1,800 families in difficulty be partly fed during the Christmas holidays thanks to financial assistance from the United Nations Children’s Fund. “We are one of the richest countries in the world”, was indignant the number two of Labor, Angela Rayner.
“We should never have come to this, she continued. Our children should not depend on humanitarian associations which are used to operating in war zones and after natural disasters. “
The government of Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already faced a flurry of criticism for refusing to provide, in the midst of the epidemic, free meals to the poorest children during school holidays. He ended up bending under the pressure of a popular campaign led by star Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford.
“A longer term solution is needed”
Financial aid from Unicef, in the amount of 25,000 pounds sterling (or 27,700 euros), has been granted to several associations helping families in the district of Southwark, in south London. They will receive a total of 18,000 breakfasts, which will be distributed through the schools during the two-week end-of-year vacation. In addition, 6,750 breakfasts will also be provided during the February holidays.
According to Unicef, created in the aftermath of the Second World War, the Covid-19 pandemic is the most urgent crisis affecting children since this conflict.
“This is Unicef’s first emergency response in the UK, conducted to tackle the unprecedented impact of the novel coronavirus crisis and reach the families who need it most”, explained Anna Kettley, her country program director. “A longer term solution is needed to tackle the roots of food poverty, so that no child goes hungry. “
Boris Johnson spokesman defended the government’s action, pointing out that he had taken “Considerable measures (…) to ensure that children do not go hungry during the epidemic”.
