MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Almost half of Argentines still poor.

Eleven million people, just below half the total Argentine population still live under the poverty line and five million of them are described as living in indigent conditions, according to the latest report from the National Statistics Office.

The report actually indicates that in the second half of 2003, the poverty index dropped from 54 to 47,8% compared to the first half, while the indigence index contracted from 27,7 to 20,5%.

A poor home is defined as that made up of a couple and two children with a monthly income below approximately 300 US dollars; for indigent families the line is below approximately 120 US dollars a month.

The report shows that last year 2,524,000 Argentine homes were below the poverty line totalling 11,074,000, of which 4,749,000 indigent.

However the Argentine government is considering a new definition methodology for poverty line that includes a basket of basic foods and the geographical extension of the survey.

The "indigence line" to be redefined will try to establish if these homes have access to sufficient energy and protein needs, taking as reference a male, 30 to 59 years old, with a moderate activity.

The suggested system will be based on two baskets, the Basic Food Basket and the Basic Total Basket that will include, besides BFB, non food consumption such as clothing, transport, education and health.

Geographically the system includes 28 urban conglomerates in Argentina. The northeast area is the most depresses with 53,5% of poor homes and 64,5% of people below the poverty line. This area (Corrientes, Resistencia, Formosa and Posadas) concentrates the highest number of homes and people living in indigent conditions, 25,8% and 33,9%.