Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Spain's New Poor Take Brunt of COVID-19 Fallout

Graham Keeley

   MADRID - Eduardo Sánchez is among the volunteers at a Red Cross food
   bank in Barcelona. Unfortunately, he is also one of a growing number of
   Spaniards who depend upon the charity for basic necessities.

   The father of three lost his job at a catering company the day after
   Spain imposed a lockdown in March to try to contain the spread of the
   coronavirus epidemic. As the only breadwinner in the family, he was
   forced to ask for help from the Red Cross where he passes his days
   driving supplies around.

   Sánchez, 47, is another casualty of the economic downturn caused by
   the pandemic, which has left seven million people - almost 30% of
   Spain's workforce - depending on state aid, according to government
   figures released in May.

   Among those are people who have lost their jobs, been laid off
   temporarily or who are sick.

   "It is pretty frustrating but what can you do? I am just hoping that
   when things get better, they will give me a call," Sánchez told VOA as
   he loaded a van with fruit, meat and fish. "I am on the dole and get
   '¬1,200 ($1,317) per month. But that is '¬800 ($878) less than I did
   when I was working. With all the bills, we don't have enough. And the
   unemployment benefit will end in August."

   Economic hibernation

   The Red Cross said since the lockdown plunged the country into economic
   hibernation, it has offered help to 1.6 million people -- five times
   the number during the same period in 2019.

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