Increasing Poverty in Argentina Marks the Christmas Holidays: Social Organizations Denounce the Crisis

The current situation raises serious questions about the economic and social future of the country while social organizations continue to demand attention and solutions to a crisis that intensifies day by day. Dec 25, 2024 Photo: @Agitacion_

December 25, 2024 Hour: 7:19 pm

Faced with this critical situation, the Movement of Excluded Workers (MET) and the UTEP, together with the NGO Project 7 and other social organizations, held a Christmas dinner in front of the Congress of the Nation, where almost 4,000 people from the streets gathered.

Social organizations in Argentina raised their voices this Wednesday to denounce that the population faces a Christmas marked by an alarming increase in poverty and indigence, amid the recent cuts implemented by the government of Javier Milei.

The Union of Workers and Workers of the Popular Economy expressed its discontent through the social network X, stating that “while the Milei government is lying by misrepresenting figures where everything would be improving, the reality in the neighborhoods and in our sector continues to worsen.”

This event not only sought to provide a moment of unity and solidarity but also to make visible the harsh reality that many Argentines face during these festivities.

The National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) published a semiannual report in September that reveals alarming figures on poverty in the country.

According to the report, more than 50% of the Argentine population lives in poverty, which is equivalent to approximately 15.7 million people below the poverty line during the first six months of 2024. This represents an increase of almost 13 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

The report also highlights that about 18% of the population is destitute, unable to cover a basic basket that meets their minimum energy and protein needs.

These figures reflect the impact of economic policies implemented by the Milei government, which has made radical changes in public spending with the aim of achieving a zero deficit. However, these measures have dealt a severe blow to the most vulnerable sectors of Argentine society.