Argentina, a Filicide State

Hunger keeps on straining the North of the country

No solutions have been given to the humanitarian crisis that strains the poorest areas of the South American country. Last reports from the northern provinces of Tucuman, Chaco and Formosa, confirms what no one wants to hear: despite Government's effort, malnutrition continues.

A four months child died last weekend in Tucuman, after spending his short life without enough food to even survive. This new case increased the number of malnutrition victims to 18, officially reported by local authorities, during the last months. Also, two other cases were reported from Chaco, another province strained by hunger and indigence.

The child who died in Simoca, 50 kilometers down South from the Tucuman's Capital, was almost left unburied, as the relatives had no money to do it. The physician who looked after him until the end had to ask house by house for a coffin.

"The situation in this city - Simoca - is dramatic. Our level of malnutrition and child mortality can also be compared with African countries and some regions in India; but our Nation does not do anything", said Doctor Luis Marcelo Albaca.

Notwithstanding, during the last months, the Government launched a national program to mitigate the effects of hunger in some regions. President's wife, Hilda Gonzalez de Duhalde, traveled herself to oversee the implementation of these programs. However, last reports showed the crisis is deeper than expected and new efforts have to be done.

As per the last official researches, malnutrition cases add up to 2.000 children in the city of Simoca. As per the whole province, the figures are not very encouraging: authorities estimate in 18.000 the number of children who desperately need enough food to survive.

However, the scenario is very much more critical than the authorities dare to inform. Many cases of malnutrition were reported in the rich province of Buenos Aires, which concentrate over half of country's GDP. The province has a tremendous debt with foreign and local creditors as a result of years and years of mismanagement and corrupted Governments.

As hunger spreads no efficient response appears to come from the State. However, very active groups of citizens have designed an efficient assistance network to counterattack the advance of poverty and indigence. They are doing their best to mitigate people's suffering, but only the State can coordinate needed Nation-wide effective actions, very much awaited until now.

Hernan Etchaleco PRAVDA.Ru Argentina

Photo (La Nacion): The horrendous face of famine.