Castillo, 26, from Colombia, now has just $ 66 to spend the day in Melbourne, one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Australia attracts hundreds of thousands of international students who come to study abroad on the promise of a first-class education and great experiences.

Every day, about 100 students, students from Asia, Latin America and many other areas line up outside a cooking school in Melbourne waiting to receive free meals.

International students pay small sums of money each year to study in Australia, but students like Santiago Castillo from Colombia are now counting every cent to survive the day.

Castillo, 26, worked at a coffee shop before Covid-19 broke out.

After paying rent and borrowing more from friends, Castillo now has less than $ 66 in his account.

Government payments only apply to laid-off workers, not to non-permanent residents, even if they pay taxes to the local and bring billions of dollars to the Australian economy.

To support those who are not on subsidies, free kitchens are springing up across Australia.

"I'm extremely stressed," Castillo said, pointing to the small lumps floating on his lips, back and eyes.

Two subsidy meals a day at the Melbourne City Institute of Education, mainly curry, chicken and a vegetarian dish, are "life buoys" with him.

Marilia da Silva, a student from Brazil, is also living off the relief food.

The Melbourne Education Institute currently has about 600 international students enrolled, 90% of whom have lost their jobs, according to Gary Coonar, the institute's executive director.

Student welfare officer Michelle Cassell said, "in facilities like this, students often have to sacrifice meals to save rent."

The institute has partnered with Charon Foundation, a local charity, to provide 900 meals a week to those most affected by the epidemic since mid-March.

Cassell said the program can last until September or until the student settles down.

Australian universities have passed nearly the first half of the semester when Prime Minister Scott Morrison on April announced that international students who were plagued by the disease should "go home".

"By the time he made that statement, flights had stopped working," Coonar said.

Volunteer chef Laarni Byrne just started a commercial cooking course when she decided to stay in Australia.

"I have to be very lucky to reach Australia. I have made a lot of effort to come here," Byrne said.

Australia is set to open the blockade beginning on June 1, meaning that restaurants and cafes can serve again, providing job opportunities for students.

"I need to find a way to work effectively instead of worrying about the impact of Covid-19," Byrne said after losing both online marketing and employment at a hotel.