Until 1994, the Jewish community in Argentina was financially self-sufficient and relied on JDC only for technical assistance. Then a terrorist bomb destroyed the AMIA (Argentine Mutual Aid Association) building, killing 85 people and wounding 200. JDC immediately rushed in aid, providing $1 million in assistance to a devastated community. This was the second terrorist attack in two years. In 1992, terrorists had bombed the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires.

Before the community could fully recover from these horrifying attacks, Argentina’s economy began to collapse. Today, the economy is in ruins. A once wealthy Jewish community now struggles to survive. 60,000 Jews are now living below the poverty line, and some 40,000 of them are in urgent need of direct welfare assistance.

JDC uses a multilevel approach to help the Argentine community. We are supervising and coordinating allocations from more than 74 Social Assistance Centers and the community’s Volunteer Network. We also are providing relief and welfare to the elderly. Model programs for small business development and the promotion of job opportunities have been established, and we are working to increase the fund-raising capacity of the local community.

With local communal and institutional partners, JDC’s goals are to help alleviate the immediate crisis and to serve as a bridge until the community is once again self-sufficient. During 2002, JDC provided $8.76 million to support its efforts in Argentina.

2004