Faced with a reformulation by the government of the way of implementing food assistance to the thousands of soup kitchens throughout the country, the
Church
asked the authorities
not to interrupt it
while they modify the modality because "today hundreds of thousands of people
are “It makes it increasingly difficult for them to eat well
.”
The Ministry of Human Capital decided weeks ago to suspend the distribution of non-perishable food and
replace it with the delivery of a card
with which they can be purchased and undertake a re-registration of the canteens in order to achieve greater transparency and avoid intermediaries.
The implementation of the card - which, they say in the Government, will allow the purchase of more food, even non-perishable, because the amount will be greater - will replace the 6 tons of food that some 8,000 canteens received, whose delivery was not made by 80% of the social movements, according to official sources.
In a statement, the bishops begin by saying that “in pastoral dealings with simple people, we have learned that:
'a plate of food is not denied to anyone'
.
The thing is that
in our country no one should go hungry
, since it is a blessed land of bread.
However, today, hundreds of thousands of families find it increasingly difficult to eat well.”
“
Inflation
has been growing day by day for years and has a strong impact on the price of food.
It is clearly felt by
the working middle class, retirees and those who do not see their salaries grow
,” he points out.
They add that “also
the entire universe of the popular economy
, where people practically work without rights.
Let's think about the street vendors, the recyclers, the fair sellers, the small farmers, the brick makers, the seamstresses, those who carry out different care and service tasks."
“In this scenario of sacrificed work and low income, families are deprived of many things.
For example, a mother can forgo taking the bus and walk to save money, but in no way can she not feed her children.
That is,
food cannot be an adjustment variable
”, They emphasize.
They consider that “it is necessary to anticipate so that this situation
does not deepen the food crisis
.”
And for that, people, communities and the people must be provided with whatever is needed to help the most fragile, especially children, adolescents and the elderly.”
“In the face of a crisis,” they assert, quoting Pope Francis, “
technocratic paradigms are not enough
, whether state-centric or market-centric, community is necessary.”
They remember that “the time of the pandemic taught us the value of organized community response: united to heal, care and share was the slogan of that time.
Thus, the dining rooms multiplied in our parishes, in the evangelical churches, among the popular movements, especially in the homes of neighbors who lent a place.”
They highlight that the main protagonists were the women and add: “Each one approached the pot thinking not only of their children, but also of those of the neighbors, and in this way they formed a community, in this way they formed a town that stood up to the challenge.” an unprecedented challenge.”
“If we want to work for social peace, we have to first recognize the value of the other as another, and their contribution to the common good,” they warn.
In that sense, they say that “that reserve is still present, which is why the national, provincial and municipal state has to take advantage of it so that
no one is left without their daily bread
.”
“All care spaces that provide food, all community kitchens, parish kitchens, evangelical churches, and popular movements
must receive help without delay
,” they urge.
They point out that “no sector of those that are acting today, no institution or Church, could do it alone.
The complexity of the crisis is indicating this.
There are programs like the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) that have proven to have a very positive impact, are easily auditable and can be applied to all these places.”
“Without interrupting the activity of the spaces that continue to provide food assistance, they can be audited at the same time so that they account for their transparency and in this way, contribute to optimizing aid without neglecting anyone,” they recommend.
They emphasize that “this entire community, a true army of love and service, is willing to feed now because it is necessary, but without giving up continuing to put the country on its shoulders, so that in our beloved Argentina the dream of Earth can come true. Roof, and Work for each family.”
D.D.