Food aid organizations in Israel are warning of growing difficulties in meeting community needs ahead of Rosh Hashanah, citing a sharp increase in demand, declining donations, and limited government support, according to a new survey by the NGO Latet.
The survey, which polled 104 directors of food aid organizations, found that 94.3% of respondents believe the financial condition of their recipients has worsened over the past year. Among them, 66.4% said the deterioration was significant or very significant, while 27.9% reported a moderate decline.
Since the outbreak of the war, 93.3% of the organizations surveyed reported absorbing new families in need, with each organization reporting an average of 75 additional households. Despite this, 58.7% reported being unable to offer regular support to all those seeking assistance.
The findings showed that 86.5% of food aid groups experienced an increase in requests for help. In response, 26.9% said they had extended their services to new communities.
At the same time, 65.4% reported a decline in donations. Of these, 20.2% described the decrease as significant, while 45.2% said it was moderate. Both monetary and in-kind contributions were affected.
As a result, 23.1% of organizations said they had reduced the frequency of aid deliveries, and 24% reported distributing smaller food parcels. In contrast, 25.9% said they increased delivery frequency, and 27% said they had enlarged parcels to meet demand. Many noted that this was often at the cost of reducing their reach.
Gilles Darmon, the president and founder of Latet, said, "Our true strength has always been our social capital, not our firepower. But Latet’s figures on the dramatic rise in food insecurity reveal that this shield is cracking, and the era of ‘Super Sparta’ is already upon us."
Minimal government and municipal aid
Government funding accounted for just 3.7% of the surveyed organizations’ annual budgets.
When asked about government efforts to respond to increased needs since the war began, 76.9% said the support was limited. Of those, 37.5% reported no response at all, and 39.4% described it as minimal. Only 13.5% considered the government’s response to be moderate, and 9.6% found it sufficient.
At the municipal level, 51% of respondents reported receiving no support from local authorities. Of those that did, 37.3% expressed a high or very high level of satisfaction.
The survey also noted a rise in demand for non-food essentials. Some 40.4% of organizations reported an increase in the distribution of hygiene and cleaning products.
Additionally, 29.8% reported an increase in requests for mental health assistance, with 11.5% describing the rise as significant.
As Rosh Hashanah approaches, the report highlights the growing strain on food aid organizations. Many are struggling to meet widening needs with shrinking resources.