Why at risk of poverty but not poor, President asks

Fighting poverty in Europe was not enough and poverty in other continents also had to be addressed, President George Abela emphasised yesterday.

He said a percentage of poor people were migrants, who were pushed to leave their country because of poverty: "Poverty creates a vicious circle, with poor people leaving for Europe."

Dr Abela said it was a stain on humanity that the world had the technology to produce food but people were still dying of hunger. Moreover, it was shameful that people who did not have enough food did not always receive aid in time. Speaking during a conference as part of the activities being held to mark the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, he said there were various forms of poverty but shortage of water remained the worst type because it deprived people of the sacrosanct right to life.

The President said the EU had to come closer to the citizen and not remain - as some people saw it - an abstract thing in Brussels.

Ten years ago European leaders promised to eradicate poverty in the EU by 2010 but this had failed. Instead, there were about 80 million Europeans at risk of poverty, amounting to some 17 per cent of the population. Marios Camhis, acting head of the European Commission Representation in Malta, said 19 million of them were children.

Quoting figures issued by the National Statistics Office, Dr Abela said 14 per cent of Maltese were at risk of poverty. The figures varied from 18 per cent in Gozo to 12 per cent in the north of Malta. He said it was not clear to him why such people were considered at risk of poverty and not poor.

Pointing out that education played an important part in avoiding poverty, Dr Abela asked what else could be done to help young people get a better education.

He described poverty as a deficit in democracy because poor people did not always have the means to fully participate in society.

Irene Schembri, from the Anti-Poverty Forum that incorporates 46 different organisations, gave examples of different types of poverty, including people with a disability who were taken care of by their parents and had nowhere else to go, and their parents.

"I recently received a call from an elderly couple whose 36-year-old daughter is completely dependent on them and cannot find somewhere to leave her. They are tired but the only option offered was St Vincent de Paul Residence. That is poverty," she said, adding this was not suitable accommodation for a person with a disability.

Social Policy Minister John Dalli said that, although the EU was one of the richest zones in the world, poverty remained a major challenge.

He said the financial crisis had an impact on the social aims of European countries and vulnerable people were the worst affected. Under the slogan Stop Poverty Now!, the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion aims to raise greater awareness about the causes and consequences of poverty in Europe.

It also aims to mobilise different partners - governments, social partners and the public - in the fight against poverty, promote social integration and inclusion and encourage clear commitments on drawing up EU and national policies to tackle poverty and social exclusion.

In Malta, the National Implementing Body will be holding a series of events to raise awareness, helped by the 10 ambassadors who were yesterday appointed to assist in the campaign.