As per the annual report released by Leket Israel, the ongoing conflict with Hamas is intensifying the plight of the 1.4 million Israelis unable to afford nutritious food. The report highlights the increasing difficulties in rescuing and distributing food to those in need due to the damage to the agricultural sectors along the Gaza and Lebanon borders, where the IDF and Hezbollah engage in daily clashes.
The report, a collaborative effort with the health and environmental protection ministries, indicates that the scarcity of local agricultural produce and the doubling of imports to 60,000 tons since the conflict began have led to a significant price hike. This has made fresh fruits and vegetables even less affordable, exacerbating the food insecurity situation.
Food insecurity, defined as the inability to consistently access nutritionally adequate food, affected 16.5% of households in 2022, according to the National Insurance Institute. This equates to 1.4 million individuals, or 14.5% of the total population, struggling with food insecurity.
Source: www.timesofisrael.com
