Over 95M EU citizens at risk of poverty, social exclusion
September 16, 2022, 2:30 pm

Over 95M EU citizens at risk of poverty, social exclusion

The main cause of Europe's energy crisis is that Russia has cut off supplies of cheap natural gas on which the continent has relied for years to power factories, generate electricity and heat homes - Photo. Pixabay

The EU’s statistical office warned on Thursday (Sep 15), over 95.4 million people -- every fifth EU citizen -- were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2021, the Anadolu Agency reported.

According to the latest data revealed by Eurostat, 21.7% of the bloc’s population lived last year in a household that experiences at least one of the three main risks of poverty, severe social and material deprivation, or very low work intensity.

The number is slightly higher compared to 2020, when 94.8 million people, representing 21.6% of the EU population, faced similar difficulties, the report said.

The statement explained that in total, “73.7 million people in the EU were at risk of poverty, while 27.0 million were severely materially and socially deprived, and 29.3 million lived in a household with low work intensity.”

Some 5.9 million people -- 1.3% of the population -- simultaneously experienced all three risk factors.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the war in Ukraine has "entered a new phase" and called on Europeans to "resist." - Photo. Facebook

Among the 27 EU member states, Romania has the highest share of the population (34%) facing poverty and exclusion, followed by Bulgaria (32%), Greece, and Spain -- both 28% -- of their people at risk.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Finland recorded the lowest shares of the population in deprivation, with 11%, 13%, and 14%, respectively.

On Friday (Sep 16), EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told Spanish daily La Vanguardia that the war in Ukraine has "entered a new phase" and called on Europeans to "resist."

U.N. warns up to 345 million people marching toward starvation

“Now is the time to resist the consequences that the war has, and will have, for us, which can be felt in energy and food prices," he said.

"It will take time, but what's at stake is highly important," added the Spanish-born politician.

Ukraine's recent military victories in the north justify the EU's current three-pronged strategy of giving military support to Ukraine, sanctioning Russia, and isolating Putin's regime, he said.

levantnews-aa

British intelligence: Russia lacks infantry and officers in Ukraine Chinese officials ‘prevented from attending queen’s lying in state’

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”