Food banks offer support across the Algarve as Covid hits tourism 

At the Faro branch of Refood, 172 families queue for supplies every week, an increase of 160% since the pandemic started

The pandemic has ravaged tourism across the Algarve region, leading to growing poverty. File picture

Carla Lacerda used to earn a good salary selling duty-free goods to holidaymakers arriving at Algarve airport in southern Portugal, but she lost her job last August due to the Covid-19 pandemic and quickly ran out of cash to feed her two kids.

The 40-year-old now receives around €500 a month in unemployment benefits, leaving her no option but to join the queue for food donations.