Charity documents ‘human cost’ of EU austerity

Caritas Europa, a network of charities working with the most deprived, published a report on the 27 March 2014 which shows that the impact of austerity programmes in Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Romania "disproportionately" hit the poor.

Another study developed by the University of Portsmouth showed a direct link between government austerity measures and a sharp rise in male suicides.

• Primary Source

Caritas Europa: The European Crisis and its Human Cost [march 2014] http://www.caritas.eu/sites/default/files/caritascrisisreport_2014_en.pdf

ESO: Background information: Trade unions: '20% of employed Greeks live below the poverty line' http://www.europeansources.info/record/trade-unions-20-of-employed-greeks-live-below-the-poverty-line/

ESO: Background information: Troika helped to avoid the worst, but flawed structure harmed recovery http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-troika-helped-to-avoid-the-worst-but-flawed-structure-harmed-recovery/

The Guardian, 21.04.14: Austerity in Greece caused more than 500 male suicides, say researchers http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/21/austerity-greece-male-suicides-spending-cuts

EurActiv, 23.04.14: Study: Austerity driving Greeks to commit suicide http://www.euractiv.com/sections/health-consumers/study-austerity-driving-greeks-commit-suicide-301677

---