Barcelona: A city shut down by COVID-19
Spain has been one of the countries hit hardest by the pandemic. The impact is particularly visible in Barcelona, where small businesses, bars and restaurants largely rely on the millions of tourists who normally visit.
Hanging in there
El Raval, Barcelona's multicultural neighborhood in the city center, is one of the areas with the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases.
Food for thought
Every morning, hundreds of people line up outside the San Agustí church in the center of Barcelona to receive food. Martin Bartkiewcz reads the newspaper with his friend, while waiting for food. He lost his job and house a few months ago and now lives on the streets of El Raval in Barcelona.
Sustenance for a long day
Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, the FESBAL federation of food banks in Spain has reported a 40% increase in the number of people using services. More than 1.8 million people dependent on donations, which are distributed via 8,000 solidarity organizations in Spain. The photo shows the food allotted per recipient for an entire day.
Closed for good?
One of the many signs announcing availability to rent reveals the massive extent of bankruptcy affecting many small businesses in Barcelona. According to the Spanish Youth Hostel Association, about one-third of hostels may not survive through the end of the year.
Going nowhere
Last month employees and business owners in the tourist sector protested on the Plaza Sant Jaume in front of Barcelona's town hall of Barcelona against having to pay their autonomous taxes. The tourism industry has seen a sharp drop in income and revenue as a result of the pandemic. Over the summer months tourist arrivals at Barcelona's airport dropped by 75% compared to last year.
Market square hero
La Boquería, a famous market near La Rambla, is almost empty. One of the fruit juice vendors still caters for the few locals that stop by. "It's better to have a bit of income instead of nothing at all. But it is tough," he says.
Dark is the night
Although some restaurants and bars have opened again on the Plaza Rambla, famous for its excellent dining, business is slow.
Iron Man
Many of those living rough have to resort to roaming the empty streets of the Gothic Quarter in search of iron, plastic and other materials they can sell.