B40 income group in crisis, says food bank
KUALA LUMPUR: When the conditional movement control order (CMCO) for Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya was announced, many rushed to the stores to stock up on food. They went home with trolley-loads of supplies to last weeks.
Yet there was a large number of people unable to do this – those in the B40 group who have been the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The economic slowdown and resulting loss of jobs has affected the livelihoods of many poor families. They are finding it harder to put food on the table, let alone good quality, nutritious food.
Food banks, such as The Lost Food Project (TLFP) are doing all they can to provide food aid to those in need.
TLFP general manager Syazwan Mokhtar told FMT that the food situation for the B40 group is critical.
“Not even a week into the movement control order in March, we received many distress calls from our partner charities and members of the B40 community we work with.”
With members of many lower-income families losing their sole source of income, the pandemic has left many people struggling to meet day-to-day expenses.
Syazwan said even before the MCO, some children from poor households were only able to eat one meal a day, so the current situation can only be much worse.
“The health impact would be catastrophic, given the already worrying situation for many families even before the pandemic.”
Given that Malaysia is considered an international food haven, it may be surprising to some that there are people here who are going hungry and struggling to feed themselves.
In reality, there is more than enough food for everyone; but much of it goes to waste instead of feeding the hungry.
According to the World Health Organisation, the world’s 800 million hungry could easily survive on the food wasted by more privileged members of society.
“Food security is not about producing more food, but finding a sustainable solution to [distribute] the food we have already produced,” said Syazwan.
Access to adequate nutrition is important to ensure the well-being of B40 households, and failing to provide quality nutritious food can have dire consequences.
Syazwan said malnutrition and obesity are affecting urban poor children in Malaysia and that it is important to curb this unhealthy trend before it turns into a future problem.
The CMCO has also affected TLFP’s operations, with some sources of food halted due to health and food hygiene issues, restricting the organisation’s supply chain and capabilities.
TLFP and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are doing what they can to look out for the most vulnerable in society.
“NGOs are built to withstand crises and power through any situation and be able to extend a helping hand, work that not many people are able to do, or are trained to perform,” said Syazwan.
Despite the difficulties, TLFP perseveres in providing for the most vulnerable, in the knowledge that some people can only afford a meal a day with TLFP-donated food.
“We look at this as a critical time to focus on providing food for the needy first and foremost as food sources become scarce, especially for the B40 group,” said Syazwan.
The contributions from the public and from private corporations have proven invaluable in ensuring that TLFP’s food stores are stocked well enough for mass distribution.
Food manufacturers big and small have shown that they are willing to give, but a lack of coordination tends to make them hesitate to do so.
On its part, TLFP acts as a logistical arm for the manufacturers, ensuring that the donated food reaches the people who need it.
“That is why we invite more food manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers and supermarkets to get involved in our work. Instead of throwing away good, in-date food just to clear stock, let us collect and distribute it to those in need,” said Syazwan.
The government too has a role to play, he said, as it has to address the issues on a larger scale. Long-term policies on food waste and human rights, as well as a support system for NGOs, are some of the suggestions that Syazwan has made.
“We do appreciate the government’s involvement, which can further expand the outreach, if only things were done with greater collaboration and coordination,” he said.
Ordinary members of the public too can lend a hand by reducing food wastage at home.
According to a study of its landfill by SWCorp, Malaysians waste 3,000 tonnes of edible food a day, with households throwing away more than restaurants.
All this wasted food indicates a mindset that undervalues food, when many underprivileged households are struggling to obtain more than a single daily meal.
Hence, Syazwan said, those who have more food than they need should either preserve the excess for their own use or donate it to the needy. NGOs and charity homes are always willing to accept food supplies and, in fact, largely rely on donations from the public to operate.
“Without the support of everyone it is impossible for us to continue fighting for the good cause,” said Syazwan.
This World Food Day, open your hearts and help feed Malaysia’s hungry. Donations to TLFP can be made via bank transfer (Maybank 5148 9706 8927). Or support TLFP’s ongoing Rice Bucket Challenge campaign here. - FMT
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