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To the Danish newspaper 'Politiken' Yves Daccord, Director-General of the International Red Cross (ICRC) says that popular uprisings are to be expected in the year to come.
'Europe has itself become a crises zone', he says, 'we now see that Red Cross in several countries has to focus much more on domestic poor than the traditional tasks outside Europe.'
He goes on to talk about how the Greek Red Cross is nearing bankruptcy and how the Spanish Red Cross annual collection benefited only Spanish citizens. Around two million Spanish citizens now gets aid from the Red Cross.
Close to 120 million citizens of the European Union now lives in poverty, many of whom until recently were fairly affluent.
'The gap between the need for social welfare and the authorities ability to help is increasing.' Daccord says. He is convinced this development will lead to violent riots.
'Look at the uprisings in Egypt and Tunis. It was more about brad than freedom. When people don't see a way out there is absolutely no doubt that the risk of tensions and violence rise. There is no reason Europe should be spared of that', He says.
Anders Ladekarl, Secretary General of Danish Red Cross, says his organisation has reorganized as a consequence of no longer having he resources to to go out into the world. 'It is no longer viable that we should be able to gather donations for that', He says.
The minister of Danish governments office for affairs of Developing Countries, Christian Friis Bach, shares the concern of the Secretary General and the Director-General.
He gave this comments late last night: 'Red Cross is right that the sudden drop in wealth can lead to unrest. We saw that with the Arab Spring, and we are seeing it now in southern Europe'.
Source in Danish