More than 260,000 Eastern Cape households are so destitute that they do not know where their next meal will come from.

More than 1.2 million of about six million households, or 72.9%, are living below the minimum level.

The province this week conceded that its budget allocation will not be enough to provide the desperately needed food parcels to poor families during the national lockdown.

The distribution of food parcels in the Eastern Cape has been characterised by allegations of favouritism and corruption before.

Responding to parliamentary questions from DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren, social development MEC Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi said the demand for food parcels far outweighed their ability to supply them.