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In 2001, Argentina’s economy collapsed, forcing one-third of the 220,000 Jews who were once prosperous and middle-class into poverty and financial ruin. Six years later, there are encouraging signs of economic recovery as the number of people relying on welfare relief continues to decrease and local community services begin to return to a level of self-sufficiency once again.
JDC has a phase-out plan through approximately 2011, at which time JDC’s local partners will resume full responsibility for the community’s welfare programs. In the meantime, however, despite economic improvements and increasing employment and small-business opportunities provided by JDC in partnership with local Jewish organizations, the Argentina’s most vulnerable Jews still need our help:
- An estimated 24,000 Jews are still impoverished.
- 31.4% of Argentineans live below the poverty line (June 2006 CIA World Factbook).
- At the peak of the crisis, 36,400 Jews were receiving aid. The caseload has dropped to approximately 17,500 due to gradual economic improvement and tightened eligibility criteria for claiming welfare relief.
- Even many employed individuals are poor. The market has changed: jobs are lower-level and don’t include social benefits. Those who have gotten jobs make just enough to rise above the poverty line but not enough to live.
- Cost of living has soared even as wages have decreased.
- Those remaining in need are the most vulnerable, elderly and children, who cannot fend for themselves and will continue to need community assistance. Caseload after JDC’s phase-out is projected at
11,000—roughly three times the pre-crisis caseload of 4,000.
Although Argentina’s economy is beginning to recover, it will take time before the wider community can regain their economic independence.
To learn more about how JDC is helping the Argentine Jewish community, click on JDC’s Response.
April 2007
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