Chris Den Hond
Press TV, Paris
A new kind of the French population is falling into a state of poverty. That's the conclusion of a poll institute IPSOS, the Observatory of Inequalities and of important humanitarian associations like the Restos du Coeur and Secours Populaire. They sound the alarm. The health crisis caused by the coronavirus is provoking an unprecedented social crisis. A new kind of people stand in line today for clothes and food assistance.
Rachid Arar is the founder and responsible of this Opentable humanitarian association. Since long time he is heavily invested in aid for people in need.
One in three French persons has now less income than before the Covid crisis. Those who still have work fear to lose their job. Mariette was a saleswoman. Her business closed during the first lockdown. Now she depends from the food distribution. She crossed the line.
The number of persons who receive food aid increased with 30% since the COVID-19 crisis. Old people are paying a heavy tribute in matter of health, but young people will suffer more from the economic impact of the COVID crisis. Half of the poor in France is less than 30 years old. Since the beginning of the COVID crisis and the two lockdowns, one extra million of French has fallen under the poverty line. That's a total of 10 millions of poor people in France.
The Bank of France foresees an unemployment rate over 10% for 2021. An increasing number of people are in need of food assistance and blankets. Especially now in the freezing cold.