A yr into Javier Milei’s presidency, Argentina’s poverty hits a brand new excessive | Poverty and Growth Information

The soup kitchen is run by the Union of Casual Financial system Staff (UTEP), an organisation that represents workers with out contracts or in unregulated industries.

These workers make up near half of Argentina’s workforce. And poverty among the many group is excessive: Near 66 p.c are thought-about impoverished.

However teams like UTEP have repeatedly clashed with Milei’s authorities over the previous yr, as authorities funds have dwindled.

As soon as Milei took workplace, UTEP says the federal government stopped sending meals provides to its soup kitchens, which had been normal follow earlier than.

With out help from the federal authorities, the soup kitchens struggled to fulfill demand, in response to UTEP organisers. They turned as a substitute to assist from native governments and particular person donations.

“Discovering donations is a wrestle, so it appears like we now have to make magic to prepare dinner for extra individuals with the identical quantity of components. This feels worse than throughout the pandemic,” mentioned Laura Gotte, 50, one of many soup kitchen’s coordinators.

She famous that public demand was outstripping provides, as poverty has elevated. “Final yr, we used to make 13 giant pots [of food] 3 times per week. Now we prepare dinner 23 giant pots, and it’s nonetheless not sufficient.”

In February, UTEP sued Milei’s administration to power it to ship an estimated 6,000 tonnes of meals being saved in authorities warehouses. In October, a federal choose dominated in UTEP’s favour, however the meals has but to be delivered, because the case is being appealed.

Milei and his allies, in the meantime, have accused the soup kitchens of corruption, with out providing proof.

Advocates mentioned Milei has taken a combative method to social outreach programmes, even because the rising poverty charge heightens demand for his or her companies.

“There’s a demonisation of social organisations and of ladies specifically,” mentioned Fernanda Miño, 49, a neighborhood chief from La Cava, a marginalized neighbourhood within the better Buenos Aires space.

Earlier than Milei took workplace, Miño was in control of a federally funded programme to enhance infrastructure in underdeveloped areas. Its work included constructing houses, paving roads and putting in water, electrical energy and sewage service.

However funding for the programme was lower after Milei accused Miño of corruption this yr. Since then, a authorities investigation has discovered no irregularities in her work.

However, in October, armed federal police entered Miño’s home, allegedly searching for a stolen car. She mentioned the raid was a part of ongoing authorities harassment.

“They assault us as a result of we’re ladies and since we’re poor,” mentioned Miño, sitting in the lounge of her residence in La Cava. “I resent the truth that they assume that as a result of we’re ladies from the barrios we can’t do something apart from stir a soup pot, that we are able to’t lead tasks.”