Have you ever been in a flat over there? That's about all most have space for unfortunately :-( And food wise, many shop daily as with electricity typically on 4 hours/off 4 hours and things not keeping with the heat, unfortunately it's just a very different world.
They don't have canned goods there? 36 cans fit nicely in a milk crate. An upside down milk crate makes for a nice end table or foot stool, etc., and are easily stacked taking up only a foot of floor space.