Saying yes puts you in their debt': narco gangs profit from Argentinian austerity

"Things are very tough, says one of the women, who asked not to be named. What they did to those girls shows how drug trafficking gang are gaining power. Until recently, the women ran a youth centre and soup kitchen four times a week. After sweeping cuts to public funding by the president, Javier Milei, they manage only two weekly meals thanks to local help and their bakery."

"As demand grows, they say, local drug traffickers are stepping in, offering donations. They don't ask for anything upfront, but saying yes puts you in their debt, said one of the women, who asked for anonymity to ensure their safety. Many other kitchens accept, not because they want to but because they have no choice. Since Milei took office in late 2023 and slashed public spending, traffickers are taking advantage of rising needs, according to priests and community leaders."

"Milei promised to fix Argentina's economy, which has been battered by record inflation and rising poverty. While he managed to tame inflation and slightly decrease poverty, the economy has stalled. Consumption is down and nearly half of the country is borrowing money or using credit cards to pay for food. Government cuts have been felt hardest in vulnerable barrios populares as the poor neighbourhoods are known slashing food for soup kitchens, subsidies for cooks and social workers, and cutting off a programme that trai"

Four women in a small Buenos Aires room bake bread while grieving a nearby livestreamed murder allegedly committed by a local drug trafficker. The women formerly ran a youth centre and soup kitchen four times weekly but now provide only two meals due to sweeping public funding cuts by President Javier Milei, relying on local help and a bakery. As demand grows, drug traffickers are offering donations and services that create obligations, expanding their influence by supporting soup kitchens, running children's events, and providing jobs and loans. Inflation and stalled economic growth have forced many households to borrow or use credit for food.

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