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From the damage of the second wave: a jump in aid calls against the background of economic distress

With the dramatic increase in the number of job seekers, the number of applications coming to welfare offices amid income problems has increased by tens of percent, and in the last two months alone 2,710 cases have been opened.

Aid organizations report a jump in inquiries of up to 1,800%, warning: "The socio-economic problem is only in its infancy"

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• Corona virus

• Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs

Maya Horodnitsano

Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 8:20 p.m.

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In the video: Restrictions on prayers during the holiday closure (Photo: Reuters)

While the closure is expected to intensify and the number of job seekers in Israel is higher than 800,000, the number of applications to aid organizations and local government welfare offices continues to skyrocket.

In the last two months, there has been a 30% increase in the number of inquiries regarding poverty and income problems to the local bureaus, compared to the same period last year - according to data from the Ministry of Labor and Welfare, which was submitted at Walla!

NEWS.

From the end of the social facts strike on July 19 to September 13, 2,710 cases were opened in local bureaus, of which 750 were previously unrecognized.

From the end of March to mid-September, a total of 6,052 cases were opened, compared to 5,251 last year - an increase of about 15%.

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More than 100,000 Israelis have registered as job seekers since Rosh Hashanah.

Queue to the Employment Bureau (Photo: Reuven Castro)

According to the Employment Service registered 109,378 job seekers in Israel since the beginning of the closure top of this year, of which 99,913 were unpaid leave. For 80% of new job seekers - 86,738 people - at least this is the second entry corona crisis erupted in March.

"The figures speak for "Themselves, and prove how the economic crisis is hurting families who are losing their staff, degenerating into poverty and turning to welfare assistance as a last resort," said Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Itzik Shmuli, referring to the referrals to the bureaus. " "Raise disability benefits and provide critical safety nets for the unemployed, the elderly and recipients of subsistence benefits."

"The crisis is hurting families who are losing their headquarters in Lachman."

Minister of Welfare, in front of me (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Aid organizations also report a jump of hundreds of percent in applications, and in some cases along with a decrease in the number of volunteers.

In the organization "Pethon Lev", the number of referrals to food baskets for Rosh Hashanah jumped by 1,800%, reaching 40,000 applicants.

This, while the number of volunteers decreased by 40%.

"We distribute food baskets to ten thousand families, usually and this year we helped 14,500 families. We had to say many times that we have no capacity," says the organization's director general Eli Cohen.

He explains that along with the increased costs Because it is not possible to gather - there is a severe shortage of volunteers. This is partly because organized volunteering, such as by the IDF and private companies, has been reduced due to the attempt to maintain social distance or following departure to the IDF. .

"many people are afraid to go out and reach, and many others are adults at the age of risk.

So even if people want to come and volunteer, we tell them first to see if it is appropriate, "Cohen notes." We do not want anyone to endanger themselves, so there is a huge crisis in terms of manpower. "

More on Walla!

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"We had to say a lot of times that we had no ability."

Packing food packages for the needy at Levachon, March (Photo: Reuven Castro)

At the same time, the CEO of "Pethon Lev" also describes the support for donations from companies and individuals: "We got involved as if it were their task, but a little forget that this is a task that should be the government's." , Even if the health problem is solved now.

"The last time the economy was in a similar recession it took him five years to return to the previous level of employment.

Even if there is a vaccine and a cure tomorrow, only on the basis of the recession do we go through a process of years.

And apparently there is no vaccine and medicine tomorrow, so going for very, very difficult years.

The big problem is the socio-economic one - and it is still only in its infancy.

"The Friendship Fund also reports an increase in aid applications. About ten thousand needy, this year they report food aid and clothing to about 33,000 elderly families, children and soldiers.

"The corona crisis has created an economic crisis like we did not know.

"We are mobilizing with full force to help families, the elderly and children with food and basic needs so that they can get through this difficult period in peace and celebrate the holidays with dignity," says the foundation's president, Yael Eckstein.

"This is a task that should be the responsibility of the government."

Packing food packages for the needy at Levachon, March (Photo: Reuven Castro)

The growing need for assistance is also seen in the organization "Let", where there was an 86% increase in inquiries last August compared to last year.

While last year 4,288 inquiries were made, last month 7,926 calls were recorded.

Throughout the months since the outbreak of the corona there has been an increase in inquiries - from March to the end of August the number of inquiries increased by 88% compared to last year.

On the other hand, the number of referrals for volunteering remains almost the same.

"We have a real concern, given the dramatic 88% increase in calls to the organization, that the need for assistance will increase even more towards the winter and that the recession will intensify the economic challenge towards 2021," says the organization's CEO Eran Weintraub. "Food security will enter the state budget base and we expect to hold a discussion on the issue with the prime minister, as part of the budget discussions."

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