By Maria Josefina Arce

Poverty in Argentina stands at over 57%, a rate that many fear could continue to rise, given the measures adopted by the government of President Javier Milei, which are leading to a rapid deterioration in the living conditions of many Argentinian families.

According to a study by the Social Observatory of the Catholic University, some 27 million citizens are currently poor in the South American nation, of which 7 million are indigent.

The study points out that the depreciation of the currency and the rise in the prices of basic products has devastated the salaries that many citizens receive.

And the situation is very critical for the most needy, who have also found it difficult to alleviate their hardship in the community kitchens, where more and more people go every day, but the government no longer provides them with food.

Press agencies cite social organisations, which run many of these places, as saying that between December and February the number of people coming in search of food has increased by 50 per cent.

However, the authorities have frozen the delivery of food and funds to the soup kitchens while the current system is being audited.

Several protests have already taken place, in an attempt to get a response from the government that is not forthcoming.

Even in front of the Ministry of Human Capital, whose head, Sandra Pettovello, refused to receive citizens and social organisations.

The last of these demonstrations took place in the last few hours in front of the Ministry of Economy, in the centre of Buenos Aires, the capital.

In addition, the Unión de Trabajadores de la Economía Popular (Union of Workers of the Popular Economy) filed an injunction before the courts for the Ministry of Human Capital to deliver supplies to these facilities, which number some 41,000 throughout Argentina and are recognised by the state.

The request points out that the current situation is not due to a lack of resources, but to the absence of political will to cover basic fundamental rights such as food.The panorama is very complex for many Argentines, and everything indicates that it is not going to improve.  The measures of the new government headed by Milei are leading to an increase in poverty and inequality in the country.