The Argentinian justice system dictated the official delivery of tons of food in warehouses of the Ministry of Human Capital to community kitchens, however, the government led by Javier Milei declared that it will appeal the measure because these are reserves intended for emergency situations.
Judge Sebastián Casanello ordered the Ministry to provide a summary of the food retained within 72 hours and to proceed with its distribution “immediately.” The judge supported his decision with data indicating that more than 50 percent of the population is in poverty. “In the face of this group that suffers acutely from food insecurity and on whom the cost of the reported paralysis weighs, there is a need to urgently adopt positive action,” the judge said.
The decision is part of a court case initiated last February by social organizations that criticize the government, after the delivery of food to their community kitchens was interrupted last December due to an audit by the Ministry.
According to information published by the local press, the judge ordered the government to implement “a food distribution plan based on its type, quantity, expiration date and target group, anticipating its immediate execution.”
This Monday, Manuel Adorni, the presidential spokesperson, declared in a press conference that the government will “appeal” the court order. “It’s about public policy,” he said.
When asked why the government collected this food, Adorni pointed out that it is “preventive reserves for emergencies or catastrophes” and assured that “there is not a single food that is going to be thrown away.” “Food that ends up in the dining rooms goes along one lane and those destined for another purpose go along the other,” he stated without giving further details.
In a statement to Congress, Nicolás Posse, former chief of staff, said the audit findings indicated that “almost 50 percent of the canteens did not exist.”
According to the organizations, there are around 45 thousand community dining establishments throughout the country, however, an imprecise number of them stopped operating due to lack of supply from the State, while others are operating thanks to private donations.
Last February, the social leader close to Pope Francis and founder of the Union of Popular Economy Workers, Juan Grabois, had expressed his concern about the absence of food.
He also indicated that an agreement has been established with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that focuses on the “community approach” to reduce situations of vulnerability. And he showed the original documents of the agreement by which the food was obtained as evidence.
