Starvation line in Turkey has seen more than five-fold increase in 17 years

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Affiliated with the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), the United Metalworkers' Union Class Research Center (BİSAM) has shared its July 2020 report with the public.

The report has shown that a family of four had to spend at least 2,385 Turkish Lira (~320 USD) to be able to eat healthily in July. The poverty line in July was 8,249 Turkish Lira (~1,115 USD), according to the report.

Another study released by the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) on July 27 showed that the starvation line of a family of four was 2, 406 lira while the poverty line was 7,838 lira.

Indicating that the calories to be taken by a person vary, the BİSAM report has noted that while a male adult had to spend at least 638 lira to eat healthily in July, this amount was 619 lira for women.

According to the report, a young person aged 15-18 had to spend 678 lira for food and 450 lira should be spent to feed a child aged 4-6.

Taken together, a family of four had to pay at least 2,385 lira to be able to eat healthily in July, the BİSAM report has indicated.

"This amount is the amount of money a family is required to spend only for their food expenses," the BİSAM has warned, adding that "when the expenses of education, healthcare, housing, entertainment, heating and transportation are added to this calculation, it increases to 8,249 lira," which accounts for the poverty line of a four-member household.

'Starvation line increased more than inflation'

In its July 2020 report, the BİSAM has also shared figures from July 2003. Referring to these figure, it has underlined that the starvation line in Turkey has increased by more than five times in the last 17 years:

"While a family of four could eat healthily with a minimum of 15,3 lira a day in July 2003, this family could eat healthily with only 79,50 lira today. So, the starvation line has increased by 5.2 times in the 17-year time period."

According to the report, the consumer inflation rate has increased by 4.69 times since 2003, suggesting that the increase in the starvation line has been higher than the increase in inflation rate.

'Most important spending item: Dairy products'

The July 2020 report of the BİSAM has also shown that milk and dairy products constituted the most important spending item of families last month.

A family of four had to spend 18,35 lira a day for their milk and dairy needs. This figure was 15,99 lira for meat, chicken and fish, 12,59 lira for fruits and vegetables and 5 lira for bread.

Starvation line is higher in İzmir

The BİSAM has also shared details about the differences in starvation and poverty lines by provinces. Having calculated the starvation line in three major cities in Turkey, the BİSAM report has shown that the starvation line was 2,603 lira in Turkey's Aegean province of İzmir in July while it was 2,564 lira in İstanbul and 2,309 lira in the capital city of Ankara.

The report has also shared detailed figures as to the starvation line in industrial cities of Turkey. (HA/SD)