Newspaper Illum revealed that many people, most of them Maltese nationals, are turning to food banks, parishes and support groups to feed themselves as food prices sky-rocket.
The paper was informed of this by Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, who heads the Millenium Chapel in Paceville.
He told the newspaper that many Maltese have their backs against the wall, pointing to three areas where price increases are make poverty rates worse: essential products, medicines and rents. Many have been left without a roof over their head, he added.
‘There are 300 people who are homeless. Homeless shelters are full. Come here by night and see the amount of people asleep along the beachfront. There are usually three other people sleeping next to our chapel’ he said.
Manager of the Foodbank Lifeline Foundation Barbara Caruana also explained to the same newspaper that the number of families in need has risen well above pre COVID-19 pandemic levels. Instead of helping around 100 families per week, it is now offering food to around 250 families.
The same sentiments were echoed by Fr Mark Andre Camilleri, Rahal Gdid parish priest. He added that many foreigners have resorted to the parish church because of their ‘precarious working conditions’ and due t being exploited. Fr Anton Cassar, Bormla parish archpriest, also noted an increase in poverty, pointing to the parish’s handing out of over 180 sets of groceries per month.
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