Percentages have a way of masking true numbers and softening the blow of a large figure. The National Statistics Office on Wednesday issued a statement saying that 9.5% of the population live in severely materially deprived households. A bit of simple mathematics establishes that out of a population of 423,300 (2013) – 40,213 people live in severely materially deprived households.
40,213 people living in abject poverty certainly jars more than a 9.5% figure. But what does severely materially deprived actually mean? According to the NSOs workings, which are based on the EU definition, it means people who have arrears on mortgage or rent payments, utility bills, hire purchase instalments or other loan payments; not being able to afford one week’s annual holiday away from home; not being able to afford a meal with meat, chicken, fish (or vegetarian equivalent) every second day; not being able to face unexpected financial expenses; not being able to buy a telephone (including mobile phone); not being able to buy a colour television; not being able to buy a washing machine; not being able to buy a car; not being able to afford heating to keep the house warm.
If we read the definition again, it becomes all the more shocking. 40,000-odd people (a good chunk of them children) cannot afford on, or a combination or all of the above. While all this is happening, the political parties bicker, with one blaming the other for the state of affairs.
It seems that things have improved slightly since the last count, and there are a number of government measures that have helped, such as one-time grants, the lowering of electricity tariffs and schemes to get people back into work. But it is abundantly clear that there is a lot of work left to do.
Many in Malta talk about the perception of poverty versus the reality of poverty. Our society is a generous one and along with the state, the Church and NGOs do sterling work to help the less fortunate. But we do have an issue of hidden poverty. We do not have the issues that many European countries have with homeless and people who have to resort to begging. But we do have people who have to resort to prostitution. We do have people who cannot feed themselves and their children and we do have people who get caught in loan shark traps.
President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said, when assuming the Presidency, that her hallmark would be an incessant fight to lift people out of the poverty trap. We know that she is working hard in this regard. But this is not a problem that we can just throw money at. Many of those who are afflicted by poverty have no job training and many have what we call in Malta – social problems. These people need support. They need training and education. And above all else, they need understanding. It is only when we truly begin to understand the root causes of poverty that we will be able to do something to fight it. Bickering is not the solution.