Number of people suffering simultaneously from blindness and poverty in different districts of the city have shown an upward trend, an official of the Ebsar Foundation for Rehabilitation and Impairment Services said here in a report. Ahmad Saeed Abu Hassan, Public Relations and Information Consultant at the society, said social and economic standing of those with visual impairment and are documented in Ebsar is poor because of unemployment, limited income or early retirement due to blindness. Lack of rehabilitation programs prevents persons with vision impairment from earning his livelihood. The Ebsar issued Tuesday a report on the first half of its program “combating poverty among people with vision impairment” for this year. Abu Hassan said the program involves medical and curative services, food baskets and clothes, in addition to other humanitarian services. The report showed that the program targeted 100 beneficiaries in need of food supply, medications and general health care, especially with the recent price hikes. Muhammad Tawfiq, Ebsar's Secretary General, said poverty among beneficiaries has increased. He said in this year's first half the number of beneficiaries was 46% higher than last year because of the floods that ravaged some districts of the city. The foundation increased the number of beneficiaries in response to the Ministry of Social Affairs directives to support Jeddah floods victims, he said. Ebsar said its survey conducted to find out the impact of its poverty programs on 146 beneficiaries showed the program had met their basic requirements while there was a satisfaction in terms of the way food baskets were distributed. The baskets were a crucial element in their tackling of the price hikes. __
