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While looking at the state of poverty around the world, Julian Omidi notes the striking rise in poverty rates in Europe. Julian Omidi discusses these findings and what they mean for the global fight against poverty. 

Whether developing or developed, nations across the globe contain people suffering from poverty and Europe is no exception. Poverty in Europe was recently shown to affect almost 120 million people, equivalent to approximately one-fourth of the overall population of the European Union. 

Some of the hardest hit countries have included Bulgaria, where almost half of the population are near or below the poverty level, Romania, and Latvia (where the impoverished or near-impoverished make up roughly two-fifths of the population), and Lithuania. In countries like Greece and Spain the number of those impoverished was higher than the EU average, but a few countries such as France have managed to keep poverty levels below that average. These figures have seen a significant rise when compared to the numbers for 2008 and 2009, when the percentage of those in poverty hovered around 23.45%. 

In the United Kingdom, over 13 million residents live below the poverty line, which accounts for about 20.75% of the population. That means that about one in four people living in the UK are currently experiencing poverty. The recession (which has affected more than just the United States and its inhabitants) took a significant toll on those in Europe as well, with an increasing number of people turning to foodbanks in the nation in order to avoid starvation. 

Food poverty affects people on both sides of the poverty line, many of whom are employed and many of whom are trying to support families. It is estimated that only about 5% of the people assisted by foodbanks are homeless and that the majority are working families who are struggling to make ends meet, especially around the holidays when there is an expectation to spend money on gifts for children. Additionally, winter brings with it an increased need for utilities such as heat and with rising energy costs, many will struggle to stay warm and fed let alone be able to splurge on toys. 

The UK has a number of different charities of their own to help combat poverty, including the Trussell Trust's Foodbank Network, which is a community-based and run project that provides a minimum of three days worth of nutritionally balanced food to those experiencing a food crisis. Trussell Trust has been rolling out three new foodbanks per week for some time in order to accommodate the needs of those who are in desperate need of food. 

There are people suffering in every corner and country of the world as a result of poverty and the only thing that we as global citizens can do is assist in worthy charities no matter where they are located. Join the discussion via social media and share this article to spread awareness and encourage charitable giving, especially around the holidays. 

By Julian Omidi