Greece to use millions seized from criminal activity to help poor, blind

ATHENS, Greece – Greece will use money seized from criminal activity to invest in health and education.

Deputy finance minister Christos Staikouras said 17.6 million euros ($24 million) would be set aside in a newly-created account. It will be used, among other things, for training for the blind, accommodation for financially disadvantaged college students, and surgery for unemployed people left without insurance coverage.

Hundreds of thousands of unemployed Greeks have lost their public health insurance as a result of the country's financial crisis, while dozens of publicly funded welfare programs have been axed or cut back.