Jean-René Cazeneuve visits Red Cross in Mirande to discuss rising food aid needs

Jean-René Cazeneuve, the deputy for Gers's 1st constituency, visited the French Red Cross branch in Mirande to meet with volunteers providing weekly food assistance to local households in difficulty.

Local officials reported an increasing number of beneficiaries and a diversification of those in need. In addition to traditional groups, the aid is increasingly used by single-parent families, working individuals whose wages no longer cover food costs, young people, and a growing number of retirees. This trend mirrors national data from the French Federation of Food Banks, which indicates that the number of people seeking food aid has risen from 1.8 to 2.4 million.

Regarding state funding, Cazeneuve noted that national credits for food aid have increased nearly 3.6 times over the last decade, rising from approximately 44 million euros in 2017 to a projected 159 million euros for 2026 under the 'Social Inclusion and Protection of Persons' program. However, he emphasized that increasing budget lines alone does not constitute a complete policy if the number of beneficiaries continues to grow.