Chaos erupted at a fruit and vegetable distribution by Greek farmers in Athens, leading to a boy being injured when he was pushed by a crowd trying to grab the goods and fell and hit his head, reports said.
The trouble began at a market stall outside the Ministry of Rural Development and Food at Acharnon Street as free food was offered. Some 20 percent of Greeks have been pushed into poverty by austerity measures that have created a record 26.8 percent unemployment rate and caused rising hunger.
Some 50 tons of food was handed out but at times the queue got rowdy as people pushed to get ahead and could be seen desperately reaching out for the bags of fruit and vegetables.
The handout was an attempt by protesting farmers to push their hopes of getting the government to get a 50% price reduction on diesel-powered farm equipment, abolition of the obligatory declaration for cultivation, a Value Added Tax cut from 23% to 6% on their products and agricultural machinery and equipment.
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