Poverty level at 30%

TIRANA, Oct 17 – On the world day against poverty Tuesday the latest figures from the Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) showed that more than one-fourth of Albanians lived on less than $50 a month and 5 percent could not afford to have food. Rich families in Albania are 12 times richer than their poorer counterparts, a number at least 5 times higher than in the developed countries. On the World Day Against Hunger the Consumer Advocacy Office organized an event to request concrete measures from the government in addressing the poverty issue. Altin Goxhaj said that Albania lacks the concept of a minimum living standard and that no figure has been determined so far that could serve as an analytical tool in designing steps to improve the situation. Prime Minister Sali Berisha has said that the new 2007 budget would specifically address poverty. (Tirana Times Staff)