Argentina News Roundup: 18th February 2014

Government Increases Support for Flood Victims: The head of the National Administration for Social Security (Anses), Diego Bossio, announced this morning that the national government would boost its support for those affected by widespread flooding in the provinces of San Juan and Mendoza. Bossio said that Anses would double its pension and social welfare payments to those affected by the floods, while subsidised loans from the social housing programme Procrear would be provided for those needing to repair their properties. Bossio added that an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 families would qualify for this additional support.

Up to 3,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in San Juan in recent days due to the floods. In some areas an estimated 100mm of rain, approximately the annual average for the region, has fallen in the last week. The provincial education minister, Cristina Díaz, also announced today that the start of the school year would be delayed by two weeks until 10th March due to the impact of the floods, with many evacuees taking refuge in public schools. The National Meteorological Service (SMN) has warned that unstable conditions would persist in the region until the end of this week.

Security Secretary in Favour of Decriminalising Drugs: Argentina’s national secretary for security, Segrio Berni, said that on a personal level he is in favour of “decriminalising the entire supply chain [of drugs], from production to consumption.” Speaking on radio show Tierra de Locos today, Berni added that violence associated with drug trafficking gangs was “the natural evolution of the business of illicit goods” and called for a “serious and responsible debate” on the subject. Earlier today, Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich affirmed Berni’s claims that Argentina is not a producer of drugs on a meaningful scale, contradicting a statement last week by Defence Minister Agustín Rossi. Both played down media rumours of a division in the ruling party over official drugs policy.

Road Accident Deaths in Buenos Aires Increased in 2013: A report by the Ombudsman for Buenos Aires revealed that deaths caused by traffic accidents in the capital increased by 11.7% in 2013. The reported counted 10,124 serious accidents during the year, up 2.9% compared to 2012, causing 10,621 injuries (up 1.1%) and 86 fatalities. Almost half (39) of those that died were pedestrians, with motorcyclists and car drivers the next most vulnerable groups. Road safety remains a major issue in Argentina, with NGO Luchemos por la Vida estimating an average 21 fatalities every day on roads around the country.