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UK: One-fifth homes are 'deprived' of food amid pandemic

UK: One-fifth homes are 'deprived' of food amid pandemic

UK homes

Children in approximately one-fifth of the homes in the United Kingdom are ''deprived'' of proper food to eat.

The number of households with children going hungry has doubled since lockdown began, as millions of people struggle to afford food according todata revealed by the Food Foundation.

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In the past five weeks,children are skipping meals and arenot getting enough to eat as already vulnerable families battle isolation and a loss of income.

Figures show 46 per cent of parents with a disabled child and 30 per cent of lone parents are facing food insecurity.

Schools have been closed for weeks, meaning no reprieves for children who depends on free school lunches or breakfast clubs.

According to theFoodFoundation, of the 621,000 children who were accessing free breakfast clubs before the pandemic, only 136,000 are being provided with an alternative. However, 31% of children entitled to free school meals are still not getting any substitute, leaving more than 500,000 children going without.

While meal voucher schemes running in the countryarebeset with problems, food banks have been overwhelmed with demand during the lockdown and are struggling to cope.