Have the people in the slums lost hope? Or—is desperation reaching a whole new level?

These are questions we raised to ourselves after seeing a significant change in how people are reacting at our food camps. We are seeing more desperation, people out of control, bigger turnouts, etc. It makes us scratch our heads trying to find answers to better help.

We have some theories as to what is causing this drastic change. Before diving into theories, let us share with you what we have seen. (Share your thoughts; you can help get to the bottom of this.)

We—for the first time—saw people fighting each other while in line to get food supplies. And we are not talking about simple verbal arguments. We are talking, pushing, shoving, and sometimes fist-fighting. We often had to intervene before it got out of control, where (literally) someone could get hurt, including children, by standing.

AT THE START OF THE DISTRIBUTION

After recognizing the camp could not move on (the first time ever we had to leave before we were done), we saw people—many with their children—chasing as long as two kilometers the truck with the food supplies. For the first time, we felt helpless and hopeless at the same time. (Not a feeling we want to experience ever again.)

Inflation has played a main role in this shift in behavior. Food prices have risen as high as 60 percent. A food camp for 75 families, e.g., used to cost no more than $500, but now it is—at least—over one thousand dollars. And as we painfully discovered, it was not enough.

In many regions worldwide pandemic resulted in less business, which translates to less need for people to do the job. A decrease in demand for the workforce often leads to more people on the streets without income and less competitive salaries for those with jobs.

In summary, it is becoming more and more difficult to execute our mission. We must find new, creative ideas to continue our journey as the world changes around us. This is where your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions help us. Share your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions; we can—collectively—find solutions to better help.

THE UNTHINKABLE, WE (FOR THE 1st TIME) HAD TO CANCEL THE DISTRIBUTION