Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sep 6, 2019 / 14:49 pm
Catholic bishops in Argentina are calling on the government to declare a food and nutrition emergency in response to heightened inflation and rising poverty rates.
"Faced with a severe increase in homelessness, poverty, unemployment and the indiscriminate increase in the price of the basic food groups, we find ourselves in an emergency food and nutrition situation which essentially affects the most vulnerable, especially children," said the Bishop's Commission for Pastoral Social Ministry.
The commission asked the government to "provide the necessary measures to declare a food and nutrition emergency throughout our country" and take swift action to remedy the situation.
The bishops asked the government to create early childhood baskets, to be distributed free or at a subsidized cost, offering diapers, medications, vitamins and dietary essentials including milk, meat, fish, eggs, legumes, fruits and vegetables.