Alternative poverty report says number of people in need of food aid rose 104% over the past year.
By JPOST.COM STAFFPoorman88(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
A quarter of Israel's poor Israel who were being supported by welfare organizations have considered ending their lives over their financial situation, an alternative poverty report released by the Latet organization revealed Wednesday.
According to official figures published by Latet, which oversees the distribution of food packages to more than 100 individual aid organizations around the country, the number of people in need of food from welfare organizations rose by over 104 percent in 2007.
The survey was conducted between July and September this year, and included over 500 people from a cross-section of the poor population in Israel.
According to the survey, 78% of the needy cannot afford school supplies for their children, a figure 50% higher than data collected in 2006.
In regards to nutrition, 57% of the survey participants only eat two meals a day and 60% would only be eating two hot meals a week if it weren't for the assistance they receive.