Speaking to Lusa, Nuno Cabrita Alves classified the situation of Banco Alimentar do Algarve as “worrying”, warning of the growth in the number of requests for support from institutions that have seen their capacity to respond exhausted and have turned to the food bank to continue to support users.

The number of requests for individual support is also increasing, with around 27,000 people currently being supported (5,000 of which through a European Food Programme) - and it is “expected” to continue to grow as tourism in the Algarve enters the low season and more people are out of work, he added.

At the same time, the energy crisis and fuel prices are preventing the Food Bank from contracting or transporting goods, reducing its daily food collection capacity and making food baskets “less complete”, warned Nuno Cabrita Alves.

“Right now I think we are heading towards the perfect storm”, warned the president of the institution, warning of the “worrying” situation that lies ahead.