Sorting. It is a taxing logistical task to sort and share out the food - Archives

Sorting. It is a taxing logistical task to sort and share out the food - Archives

J.S.N.Maó27/10/10 0:00
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The charity, Caritas, which works within the Diocese of Maó and Ciutadella is having to meet the basic needs of an increasingly large group of people; those hardest hit by "la crisis". For the past two years the largest group suffering poverty are immigrants. Some 60% of people receiving aid from Caritas are non-Spanish residents. Even so there has been a marked increase in the number of Spanish nationals receiving help. During the past year the number of people receiving aid in the form of essential food items has remained stable at about one thousand. However this figure represents a 20% increase on the number needing aid in 2008.

Many of the families worst affected by the economic crisis have insufficient income to cover the bare essentials required to feed themselves. Unfortunately, a large percentage of them rely upon seasonal employment to sustain themselves.

Paying for basics

Requests for help with the payment of utility bills such as electricity and water have tripled in the past year. Infants' basic needs are also being requested at double the rate of the previous year.

Caritas representatives say that they are worried that they will not be able to cope with an increase in pleas for help, which they feel sure will increase next year as more families fall into the poverty trap.

Red Cross personnel are playing a large part in the logistical operation of unloading, sharing out and distributing the food. Such components as: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, dried milk for infants, biscuits, rice and pasta.

European Union

The food has arrived on Menorca as the second delivery of aid this year. In June some 23 tonnes reached the island. This time a further 20.5 tonnes is being shared out. The food is all part of the excess food that is produced in the European Union – part of the so-called "food mountain". Caritas needs donations from the public to cope with the increase in demand that it expects; hopefully these will be forthcoming. People's unwanted goods can be taken to Mestral for sale, which helps to fund aid projects.