A family living below the poverty lines talks about its predicaments and dependence on aid

An Nahar newspaper published a report about the living conditions of one of the hundreds of families living below the poverty line.  The report describes the family’s shelter, food and medical care at a time when the father is unemployed.  The mother, Manal Zeidan, 39 year old with three children, notes that her husband worked many years in collecting wooden logs but his work witnessed a setback to the extent that they could not buy food for their children.  He blamed the influx of foreign workers for his plight, as according to him, he used to make LBP 30000 a day before and now he makes hardly LBP 5000 a day.
Manal says that they benefit from some assistance from the poverty alleviation program implemented by the Ministry of Social Affairs.  She says that the card they receive allows them to register their children in public schools at no cost in addition to accessing the public hospitals.  She also thanked Druze leader Walid Jumblat for helping them repair the roof of their house a few years ago and also mentioned that the office of Minister Wael Abou Faour provides them from time to time with food and medical supplies. The report ends by wondering when would the relevant Ministries act and support such families living beyond the poverty line and ensure a decent living for them.

Source: Al-Nahar 17 July 2014