Peru soup kitchen survival

In Peru, soup kitchen volunteers are appealing to supermarkets to donate their excess food, instead of binning it.

There are 2,300 soup kitchens in the capital city alone, catering for 250,000 needy families. This number has shot up during the pandemic so now nearly one in three people are on or below the poverty line.

Demonstrators outside Lima's main market are demanding the right to collect waste food produce. This food could immediately be put to good use in the soup kitchens. One volunteer spells out the situation.

Javier Panauka Merma: "Unfortunately, with these price increases, gas, petrol, electricity, people are really starving. Many neighbours have nothing to eat at the moment, the oil is too expensive. The soup kitchens can't cook anymore."

The city's main market disposes of approximately 50 tons of fresh produce on a daily basis, putting aside barely 5 percent for use. However, the retail authorities claim that collecting or delivering food by the soup kitchens could draw large crowds in the midst of a pandemic.

Those protesting have demanded an urgent meeting with the mayor to authorise collection of unwanted food supplies. This will go directly to support struggling families.

Ericko Tueroconza: "Food recovery is what is not sold but cannot be thrown away. There are still products that are edible and that can be used in soup kitchens and that is why this recovery is favoured by soup kitchens to appease hunger."

The demonstrators fear that without the mayor's assistance in recovering food, supplies will run out and the city will see thousands of undernourished people, particularly children.

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