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A protester, with a "No to Hunger" sign, during a march against the economic measures of President Mauricio Macri, in Buenos Aires, September 12, 2019. REUTERS / Agustin Marcarian

The Argentinean deputies voted Thursday, September 12, a bill to decree " the food emergency " in the country, including providing increased benefits to the most vulnerable. Meanwhile, protesters rallied in Buenos Aires to denounce the difficulties of the Argentineans in the face of the difficult economic crisis.

With our correspondent in Buenos Aires, Aude Villiers-Moriamé

On the huge 9 de Julio Avenue in Buenos Aires, activists from social and political organizations camp against the Ministry of Social Development. They call on Mauricio Macri's government to act in the face of rising poverty.

" We are in misery "

As Elsa Sanchez, an activist in her 50s, does not cope: " We are in misery. What do you want us to do ? We have no option but to protest. I do not have children, but I still have to feed, get dressed ... One day, you eat, the other, no ! "

Nearly one in three Argentines lives below the poverty line. Since the outbreak of the economic crisis last year, unemployment has also risen sharply and now exceeds 10% for the first time since 2006.

" The food emergency was voted by the deputies and it is important: it was five months that was claimed that, says Juan Carlos Barrionuevo, member of the organization Barrios de Pie. But now, we have to put these measures in place : there is a lot of poverty. It has been a very long time since the crisis of 2001, I believe, that we had not experienced such a situation. "

Relieving families

The bill voted by the deputies aims to relieve families who have trouble feeding themselves properly. Inflation , which has increased by 4% in August alone and nearly 55% in one year, is hard on the lives of Argentines.

The text must still be approved by the Senate, which must speak on Wednesday 18 September.