Ye Bingquan, director of Macau's Social Welfare Bureau, told the media that the SWB had started drafting relevant measures to offer economic support to the unemployed and poor.

Although there has not been a dramatic increase of applications for assistance, the relevant departments in Macau are studying the possibility of building a food bank to provide assistance to needy families.

Ye said that due to the global financial crisis, there is constant news about staff reductions. However, the SWB has not received much more applications for assistance. By September 2008, about 5,200 families in Macau had applied for help, but with the increasing influence of the financial crisis, it is estimated that this will increase to about 7,500-8,000 families.

Ye stated the Macau SAR government has an adequate budget to help these jobless and poor families and the relevant departments would look at how to adjust the living-maintenance index and keep in touch with SWB to offer assistance to those in need. He believed that with the combined efforts of the whole society, Macau would be able mitigate the impact of the financial crisis.

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