MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Eight malnourished children die in northern Argentina indigenous reservations
News of the death of at least eight extremely malnourished children in the province of Salta, in northwestern Argentina, has exposed a crisis of hunger of immense proportions in this country, an important exporter of food to the rest of the world. A seventh victim was an adult woman, who died giving birth. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesWow, that's awful. Sounds like the austerity policies coming from the IMF took away their last lifeline. Hopefully the new government can improve things quickly and prevent more deaths.
Feb 13th, 2020 - 12:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@Demon Tree
Feb 13th, 2020 - 02:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It's a joke?
The last deaths of minors due to malnutrition occurred in provinces that, historically, were always governed by Peronism. The most Peronist provinces are the poorest provinces. Do you think it's a coincidence? Provinces with countless natural resources that can never overcome the most basic poverty.
Argentina produces food for 400 million people, the current government takes 30% of that production through the so-called “withholding” tax. That is, it charges taxes to feed more than 100 million people but Argentina has only 45 million inhabitants and those who suffer from hunger are a very small minority. How is it possible that there are still hungry countrymen with such a tax burden?
Reading this gives me profound sadness. South America, with the exception of Venezuela, are net food exporters.
Feb 13th, 2020 - 09:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0This is not the first time that this happening in northern Argentina and the neglance is criminal.
Right Shicuréo...
Feb 13th, 2020 - 11:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Our indios pata sucia deserve better...
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/720/cpsprodpb/14401/production/_109454928_mapuche2.jpg
Pgerman
Feb 14th, 2020 - 07:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0“The most Peronist provinces are the poorest provinces.”
Is that so? The southernmost provinces are also pretty Peronist, no? And they are among the richest. The Ks came from Santa Cruz, and another Kirchner is still Governor there.
“How is it possible that there are still hungry countrymen with such a tax burden?”
You should ask Macri that, not me. They say there's enough food in the world to feed everyone, yet there are still people dying of hunger. It's a problem of distribution, not production.
@DemonTree
Feb 14th, 2020 - 05:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The poorest provinces of Argentina are Santiago del Estero, Formosa, Jujuy, Chaco, Corrientes, Tucuman (starting for the poorest that is Santiago del Estero). Please, look at the following pieces of data:
Santiago del Estero has a gdp per capita of USD 771. Time governed by Peronism: 22 years over 36 years (61% since 1983)
Formosa has a gdp per capita of USD 843. Time governed by Peronism: 36 years over 36 years (100% since 1983)
Jujuy has a gdp per capita of USD 1.193. Time governed by Peronism: 32 years over 36 years (89% since 1983)
Chaco has a gdp per capita of USD 1.203. Time governed by Peronism: 24 years over 36 years (67% since 1983)
Corrientes has a gdp per capita of USD 1.359 but it has never been governed by a Peronist governor.
Tucuman has a gdp per capita of USD 1.528. Time governed by Peronism: 36 years over 36 years (100% since 1983)
Ciudad de Buenos Aires, the federal and autonomous district, is the richest district and has a gdp per capita of U$D 11.237 and it has never been governed by Peronism. In addition, the poorest mentioned provinces are those with the highest levels of illiteracy while, to the contrary, the City of Buenos Aires has the highest educational rates in the country. What’s more, the poorest provinces are those provinces with highest avoidable infant mortality. By law, the fight against malnutrition and the responsibility for education corresponds to each province or district and not to the Federal Government.
The Federal Government (since 1983) was ruled during 24 years (61% of the chronological time) by Peronism. This latter written with the intention of making clear the proportion of responsibility that Peronism has in the failure of Argentina as a country since 1983.
“It's a problem of distribution, not production”. The current government takes 30% of the food production (in taxes). What does the current Goverment do with such amount of resources?
Not entirely sure what you are arguing, PGerman. First you say the fight against malnutrition and providing education is the responsibility of the provinces, in which case it is not so surprising the poor northern ones are doing poorly compared to the 10 times richer capital region. Then you ask what the current federal government is doing with the taxes they increased - it's really irrelevant what they are taxing - and they launched an anti-hunger plan on 20th January. Not soon enough for these poor children, but hopefully it will help prevent more deaths in future.
Feb 15th, 2020 - 07:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0Perhaps the federal government should also take over responsibility for education if the provinces are doing such a bad job?
It is a positive sign that the media is reporting again on the plight of Argentina's poorest among the poor. Awareness is required so that our indigenous communities are not forgotten.
Feb 15th, 2020 - 04:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina's newspapers and TV began to focus on these remote communities during the last part of the government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in 2014 and 2015. However, the indigenous communities all but disappeared from the radar during the four years of the Macri government, which of course did nothing to help them.
Let's hope for continued mainstream media attention on Argentina's indigenous communities -- instead of using them for electoral purposes.
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