With the European Union set to cut spending for food aid programmes, Portugal's increasing numbers of poor would have lesser possibilities for food and nourishment. As Western Europe's poorest county, Portugal receives 40% of EUR20 million or USD27 million in aid each year from Brussels.
This figure was confirmed by the head of the Food Banks charity, Isabel Jonet. Her charitable organization provides aid support to nearly 400,000 of the 10.5 million population of Portugal. Their expenses have been supported by the EU's 'Food for the Needy' programme. This programme though would be replaced by the Fund for European Aid.
This new fund would provide fewer resources for food, intimated Jonet to Reuters. She also said that the cash-strapped Portuguese government has not done any preparations or allotments to deal with the shoftfall.
Jonet said, "Unlike in other countries, Portugal dies not yet have a plan to make up for the changes or for a delay in the new scheme coming through, so there may be an interruption in our distribution of food."
The numbers of individuals to benefit from these kinds of programmes have been increasing in Portugal, reaching record highs in 2013.
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