Poor families will next year be able to benefit from €640,343 worth of food aid from the EU after the Commission approved a request submitted by Malta to tap a €500 million fund reserved for this purpose.

The Commission this week said Malta would be able to receive more than 5,900 tonnes of cereals to be distributed to those in the need and to charities.

This is not the first time Malta has managed to get a slice of this fund and various foodstuffs, including rice, milk powder and sugar, have been distributed in the past years through a scheme coordinated by the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs together with various NGOs.

The main recipients of this type of aid are normally those living below the poverty line.

According to recent statistics, 15 per cent of Malta’s population in 2008 was considered to be living below the poverty line, meaning that their household earns less than €7,800 a year.

Although the percentage is slightly higher than the EU average of 17 per cent, the island’s elderly seem to be in a more vulnerable position as 22 per cent of those aged 65 and over are considered to be at risk of poverty – three per cent more than the EU average.

Eurostat said in 2008, 13 per cent of the island’s population were considered to be materially deprived, meaning they had difficulties in obtaining three of a list of nine essential items.

The list includes the ability to face unexpected expenses; to pay for a one-week annual holiday away from home; existence of arrears (mortgage, utility bills, loan payments); capacity to have a meal with meat, chicken, fish or vegetarian equivalent every second day; keep the home adequately warm; own a washing machine, colour TV, telephone, and a car.

In 2011 20 member states would be eligible for its food aid scheme, which provided surplus stocks of farm produce, known as intervention stocks, to needy ­people.