Inthis contextnews forextremesituations which daily multiply are thetip of theiceberg. Absolutelynot limited to:The explosivegrowth in the numberof homeless people, that led to thehorribledeath of the homeless in the garbage track on Monday. Alsoare the soup kitchens. At least1,500 peopleeatdaily insoup kitchensof the Archdiocesein the Municipalityof Athens, while accordingto a statementof political leadersonOctober 181to11of our fellow citizensget fed at a soup kitchen!
Doctors of the World Greece are seeking your help to Humanitarian Crisis in Athens Winter 2010 – 2011
Doctors of theWorld,callingfor the collectionof specifictypes:Blankets, sleeping bags, Mats, Jackets.
They also ask for their fellow financial aid for purchase of antibiotics, antipyreticandconsumables(gauze, bandages, syringes, needles).
Marfin Egnatia Bank: Αρ. Λογ/μού: 0061274407
Alpha Bank: Αρ. Λογ/μού: 199-00-2002-002401
National Bank: 141/29611217
After submission, please call us at210 3213150tosend youproofof donation.
CREDIT CARD (Visa, Mastercard, Diners)
Making a simple phone call to 210 3213150
Doctors of the World, in accordance with the principlesandtheconsistent practiceof the organization,will deliverthe samematerial inallpopulationsin need.
The background of the humanitarian crisis
The profileof poverty
Based onHousehold Surveyannounced onOctober 7, 2010, the Greek statisticalservice: Based onHousehold Surveyannounced onOctober 7, 2010, the Greek statisticalservice: Almost 2 million residents of Greece, who participated in the survey, live in poverty. Their annualincome does notexceed7,170euros. Their feeding conditions deterioratedrapidly since 2004 when the previousinvestigation was conducted as shown bylower costs fordairy,fish, vegetables, fruit and morefor flour, bread, cereals and meat. By categories, as indicatedby researchincome andliving conditionsof the Statistical Officefor 2008, more exposedto povertyare childrenand 17 years(23%) and olderthan 65years(22%). Those most at riskof falling belowthe povertyare theunemployed(37%). By gender, women are athigherpoverty rate than men(21% and 20% respectively), whereasin terms ofeducational attainment, 67% of the poor havelow educational level. Alsoindicative ofthe economicpressure onnot only thelowerandmiddleincomesis that6 in 10 people say they just cope, according to research by theFEIR, whichwas published onMay 6, 2010.
The worstpost…
Thesegrimfiguresdo not reflectfullythesituation that has developedin recentmonths because ofrestrictivemeasures. This situation isindeedexpectedwith certaintyto deteriorate sharply in the coming period. Decisiverole in thedeterioration ofliving conditions ofmost vulnerablesocial groupswill play, among many others, the followingmeasures:
• Increases in indirect taxessuch asVAT from19% to 23% and excise duties (tobacco, cigarettes, alcohol).
• Reductions in salaries and allowances of civil servants and pensions.
• Deterioration of public health services, transport etc.and eliminationof free, through the imposition offee,that leavesunprotectedlarge sectionsof society.
The price
Result of the abovemeasures, inter alia,are:
• Increase in unemployment.Based onstatistics agencyinJuly 2010, unemployment reached12%, affecting 607,000people,9.6% in July 2009and 11.6% in June 2010.
• Flexible working relationships that willlead toa reductionin income, even those who work.
• Unprecedented price increases, as confirmingthe risein inflation to5.5%. Given thefactthat 80% of the risein inflationfroman increase inindirecttaxesis understood thatdisproportionately burdenthe poorest.
• Reduction ofrealdisposableincome, so they can notmeetevenbasicneeds such asbasicfoodand housing.
DramaticComparisons
Thesepoliciesadd to an alreadychargedsituation,as shown bythe factthat Greece was already the fourth worst location in terms of ranking of poverty in 27 EU countries. Specificallyfrom 27countries -EU membersthe highestpoverty ratewasin Latvia(26%), Romania (23%) and Bulgaria (21%). Thefourthpodiumshared betweenGreece,Spain and Lithuaniawith20% of their populationlivingin poverty.
