The poverty rate in Lithuania continues to rise, especially in remote and border areas, where in some municipalities every third resident has fallen below the poverty line.
This is evidenced by data from the Ministry of Social Security and Labor, reports LRT.
According to official data, nearly 700 thousand residents of Lithuania are at risk of poverty, with the poverty rate in rural areas nearly twice that of urban areas.
Data shows that the worst situation is observed in the Akmenė district near the border with Latvia, where local residents are increasingly turning to charitable organizations for help.
Volunteers from "Maisto Bankas" report an increase in queues for food packages, which are distributed every few months.
According to representatives of the organization, elderly people make up the majority of aid recipients, but the number of young families unable to meet basic needs is also growing.
Local authorities explain the worsening situation by high unemployment, an aging population, and low pensions.
