Food security

Italy fury erupts as mass starvation fears spark chaos in third biggest eurozone economy

TENSIONS in Italy have triggered a furious response from citizens who fear mass starvation and financial collapse in the third biggest economy in the eurozone.

Italy - one of the hardest-hit countries from the coronavirus pandemic - will start to ease its two-month strict lockdown from Monday. However, tensions across the country are still intensifying with many residents in fear that the virus chaos may still spark mass starvation. In recent days, fury has erupted with fights breaking out between shoppers at a series of supermarkets.

One incident that went viral on social media showed a desperate family pleading with a police officer after they were unable to withdraw their grandmother's pension - the family's sole income.

In another video, supermarket shoppers erupted into a brawl after several people attacked one shopper for refusing to wear a face mask.

One Priest told the Guardian: "Now people are more afraid — not so much of the virus, but of poverty. Many are out of work and hungry. There are now long queues at food banks."