The Nationalist Party issued a press release highlighting the concerning issue of material and social deprivation faced by Maltese children.
According to Eurostat, 6.7% of children under the age of 16 in Malta are deprived of basic materials and certain social services, while two out of ten are at risk of poverty or social exclusion.
The Eurostat definition of material and social deprivation includes a scale of 13 goods or services, and if a person cannot afford at least seven of them, they are considered to be materially or socially deprived. These goods and services include the ability to pay unexpected expenses, pay for a week’s holiday, pay back debts, electricity bills or rent, access to a vehicle for personal use, and access to the internet, among others.
The National Statistics Office (NSO) also released a report last December, which indicated that the rate of risk of poverty or social exclusion in Malta reached 20.3% of the population living in residences. This means that over 100,000 people in Malta are currently living in poverty.
The press release also highlights the stark contrast between the plight of Maltese children and the privileges enjoyed by the country’s elites.
#MaltaDaily