zerohedge | In chaotic scenes, thousands of angry elderly Greeks on Wednesday
besieged the nation’s crisis-hit banks, which have reopened to allow
them to withdraw vital cash from their state pensions.
“Let them go to hell!” said one pensioner waiting to get
his money, after failed talks between Athens and international creditors
sparked a week-long banking shutdown.
The Greek government, which closed the banks and imposed strict
capital controls after cash machines ran dry, has temporarily reopened
almost 1,000 branches to allow pensioners without cards to withdraw 120
euros ($133) to last the rest of the week.
The move has again sparked lengthy queues at banks across Greece —
and outrage from many retirees who are regarded as among the most
vulnerable in society, exposed to a vicious and lengthy economic
downturn.
Under banking restrictions imposed all week, ordinary Greeks can
withdraw up to 60 euros a day for each credit or debit card — but many
of the elderly population do not have cards.
Another customer, a retired mariner who asked not to be named,
told AFP he had no cash to buy crucial medicine for his sick wife.
“I worked for 50 years on the sea and now I am the beggar for 120 euros,” he said.
“I took out 120 euros — but I have no money for medication for my wife, who had an operation and is ill, he added.
