One in eight families of American soldiers and military veterans is food insecure. This is the conclusion reached by the authors of the study, which included hundreds of military families. Defense One.
At the same time, hunger in the study was called “the lack of constant access to adequate food for all family members to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.”
The Military Family Advocacy Network (MFAN), which conducted the research, identified four causes of food shortages in military families: spouse unemployment, new family members, new relocation to a new duty station, and unexpected expenses.
Survey respondents from Texas also spoke of the 2021 ice storm, while the military from Virginia noted an overall increase in the cost of living.
The researchers recommended that the Pentagon reduce the financial burden of relocating the military to other service areas, arrange for job-financing assistance for spouses, and simplify the receipt of federal aid, including food stamps, which is also recommended not to be received. It is taken into account when paying rent indemnity.
By law, the US Secretary of Defense is required by October 1 to submit a report on measures taken to improve food security for military families.
Former US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken accused Russia allegedly used the food crisis as a tool of war.
At the same time, the UN warned About the threat of catastrophic famine due to the crisis in Ukraine and anti-Russian sanctions. The UN claims that the problem will affect 44 million people in 38 countries due to the problems in food supply caused by the restrictions on Russia.