In this June 2, 2020 photo, Valentin Benitez tries to get the attention of his mother Natividad Benitez during an interview in their home, during a government-ordered lockdown to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, in the Villa 1-11-14 slum of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The number of Argentines in poverty is supposed to reach 45 percent this year as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens an already grave economic crisis. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina 聽鈥� As they wait out quarantine in a cramped, windowless room, Natividad Ben铆tez brings her six children all of their meals from the soup kitchen where she earns $133 a month, barely enough to cover her rent and a few extra monthly costs.
Since the new coronavirus came to Argentina, the priest who employs her, the Rev. Juan Isasmendi, has gone from serving 350 meals a day to 7,000, feeding residents of a poor Buenos Aires neighborhood where economic activity has all but stopped due to strict anti-virus measures.
鈥淲ithout his help, I don鈥檛 know what would become of me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 impossible to go looking for work in this situation of isolation.鈥�
The percentage of Argentines in poverty is expected to reach as high as 45% this year as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens an already grave economic crisis. The twin crises are presenting a grueling challenge to President Alberto Fern谩ndez, whose Peronist party was founded in the 1940s partly on the promise of caring for Argentina鈥檚 poor.
Even before the first case of coronavirus was diagnosed, prompting quarantines and curfews lasting more than three months, Argentina was facing 50% inflation, overwhelming debt and difficulty accessing credit in what economists call its worst crisis in almost two decades.
鈥淒oes anyone think I dreamed of an economy paralyzed by a quarantine?鈥� he said recently. 鈥淚 want a country that produces, that鈥檚 on its feet.鈥�
Several economists have cautioned that even after Fern谩ndez lifts anti-virus measures, it will be difficult to boost the economy back to the already weak pre-epidemic levels.
The World Bank foresees a 7.3% contraction in Argentina鈥檚 gross domestic product this year, one of the worst recessions in Latin America. Child poverty and deprivation among indigenous people are growing even faster, and beyond the poorest neighborhoods in Argentina鈥檚 cities.
Mirta Gonz谩lez, who lives with her two children in a middle-class Buenos Aires neighborhood, recently traveled to a soup kitchen run by the Santa Mar铆a Madre del Pueblo parish in the neighborhood where Natividad Ben铆tez lives.
She lost her job as a house cleaner due to the impact of the coronavirus and the measures to stop it.
鈥淚鈥檓 doing badly,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 provide food or clothing for my children. I鈥檓 ashamed to come here, but I don鈥檛 have any other solution.鈥�
One of the world鈥檚 biggest producers of soy, wheat, and other foodstuffs is facing a hunger problem.
Social Development Minister Daniel Arroyo told The Associated Press that the number of Argentines receiving food aid since the crisis began has gone from 8 million to 11 million.
Such social benefits have been one of the trademarks of Peronism and Fern谩ndez has had to increase aid on a variety of fronts 鈥� from cash aid for food purchases to budget assistance to provinces, cities and a national network of churches and aid groups with a long record of providing aid during past crises.
Arroyo said Peronists saw the moment as one of 鈥済reat responsibility and great challenge.鈥�
鈥淎rgentina has a history of falling and getting back on its feet,鈥� Arroyo said.
Cristian Mosqueira, a homeless man who sleeps in a Buenos Aires plaza, said,
鈥淚鈥檇 ask the president to help those who really need it 鈥� one day the peope won鈥檛 be able to take it anymore.鈥�