French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced Wednesday a program of 160 million euros (224 million U.S. dollars) to improve shelters and build 1,000 new care places for the homeless.
Sarkozy unveiled the plan, aimed at fighting poverty and exclusion, at a meeting in Compiegne of northern France, where he also visited a food bank and a "social grocery" specially for low-income people.
Sarkozy said the French government had decided to inject 20 million euros (28 million U.S. dollars) into the food distribution industry in 2009 to help improve its management and storage capabilities.
The defense ministry would provide 4,000 square meters of warehouse in the Paris region for the storage of food aid, the president added.
Sarkozy said he wanted to encourage the food industry, farmers and the distribution to pay more attention on the food aid.
Estimates showed that approximately 100,000 people live in the streets in France. Six homeless people died in the Paris region last month alone.
Source:Xinhua
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