Non-Germans to start receiving assistance from food bank after public outcry

A German food bank started handing provisions to new foreign clients again on Wednesday, three months after stopping handouts to new arrivals from abroad.

Essener Tafel made international headlines and prompted debate in Germany earlier this year after saying that non-Germans would no longer be allowed to submit new applications for food aid.

The charity, located in the western city of Essen, stopped accepting new applications for food aid from non-Germans on Jan. 10.

It noted that multiple German clients, especially the elderly and single parents, had complained about the behaviour of the foreigners during food handouts.

Many accused the organisation of being xenophobic, while Chancellor Angela Merkel also criticised the policy.

A policy change announced recently by the charity, which operates food banks across Germany, means that nationality can no longer play a role in who gets help.

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If supplies are short, clients over the age of 50, the disabled, single-parent families and those with small children will be prioritised.

Report says the charity operates across 11 locations and hands out supplies each week to some 1,800 people, and reaches an estimated 6,000 people in total with its food aid.

Tafel organisations nationwide provide support for about 1.5 million people regularly.