Red Cross: Europe must be ready for popular uprisings

Red Cross: Europe must be ready for popular uprisings

Posted By: Daniel Kirknæs Færk

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013

Millions of Europeans who were relatively prosperous, now so difficult to get food on the table, that Europe must be prepared for popular uprisings similar to those in North Africa.

The conclusion one is reached the International Red Cross because of the economic crisis in the EU.

The world’s largest humanitarian organization is therefore to establish a strategy for the first time in recent history to equip especially the Red Cross in southern Europe to to handle deep distress and conflict on an unprecedented level.

– Europe is even become a crisis zone, says Director General of the International Red Cross Committee, the Swiss Yves Daccord, Politiken.

– We are now seeing for the first time that the Red Cross in several European countries need to focus on the poor in their own country, much more than on external missions outside Europe.

More must be helped

cite Yves Daccord, the Greek Red Cross is about to go bankrupt, and the Spanish Red Cross’ annual collection in 2012 only went to nationals.

Approximately two million Spaniards are now using the Red Cross, including approximately 300,000 “extremely vulnerable” people, there is no chance to fend for themselves.

New figures from the EU’s statistical agency, Eurostat, shows that almost 120 million EU citizens live below the European poverty line (EU defines poor as people who earn less than 60 percent of median income).

– The gap between the social needs of the people and their ability to help has grown, says Yves Daccord to Politiken.

He is convinced that the development will lead to violent riots.

ready to help

Also Danish Red Cross prepares for the better to help the Red Cross elsewhere in Europe.

– They have had to put their work on because they do not have the resources to go out into the world more. It is not unrealistic that we can get to raise money for them, says Secretary General Anders Ladekarl to Politiken.

Development Christian Friis Bach (R) share a common concern.

– Red Cross right in the sharp decline in wealth could trigger unrest. It was what we saw during the Arab Spring, and it seems we are now in the south, he told Politiken.

/ REUTERS /

STORY: http://www.nyuinterventional.com/