Inflation and cost of living, a “hallucinating” crisis in the United Kingdom

In a small restaurant fish and chipsan emblematic dish of the United Kingdom, the owner explained that the war in Ukraine had a huge impact on its production costs.

His fish came from Russia. The oil used in its frying is usually imported from Ukraine. It is an increasingly rare product, its value has almost doubled, he confides.

This does not take into account the increase in energy costs, particularly marked in the United Kingdom. According to energy consulting firm Cornwall Insight, quoted by the media Bloomberg, the energy bill of the average British household could reach 2900 pounds sterling per year from next October, equivalent to more than 4500 Canadian dollars.

Personally, my charge is 170 pounds per month, and I was told it would increase to 500 pounds next monthsaid Junaid Butt, who works for the organization Human Relief Foundation.

His humanitarian organization is typically deployed in the Middle East and Africa to assist refugees fleeing war. However, due to the economic situation in their home country, Junaid Butt and his colleagues decided to start operations in Birmingham.

Boxes of cereals, canned food and sunflower oil: in their place in a multicultural area of ​​Birmingham, a small food bank has emerged to help community members.

Everyday dilemmas

To illustrate the needs his organization is trying to meet, Junaid Butt explained that he talks to parents who are trying to limit their food intake to make sure their children have a full stomach.

” It’s amazing to hear that from working class parents in the UK, because that’s the kind of situation you usually see in Third World countries suffering the consequences of war. “

The economic effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have not helped, assured Harjit Kaur, who is responsible for relations with the parents of a school district and co -founder of Human Relief Foundation.

It is difficult for the basic needs of families, for example to get oil for cookinghe says.

Too involved in the community, she also tries to support other organizations that help people who are lonely or in need.

” Needs are growing. Every day, families ask us to give them food. “

When we accompanied him, he would go to deliver meals collected at the Human Relief Foundation’s food bank in the area of ​​a Sikh association in Birmingham.

Near the kitchen, where women prepare meals to be served to the community, inflation, which has reached levels not seen in 40 years, once again invites itself into discussions.

You have to think twice before buying, says one of the center managers.

Bal, another community member, speaks about the dilemma of some Britons who have decided to limit heating to reduce their energy consumption.

We went home, cold, not hothe explained.

And the situation doesn’t seem to be improving any time soon. While promising help for families across the country, the UK government has admitted the outlook is not encouraging.

The next few months will be difficultrecognized by British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak last month.