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Argentine stadiums become a refuge for thousands of homeless people in the face of a cold wave that has killed 5 people
On July 2, the first victim of the polar cold in Argentina was known, very close to the Casa Rosada they discovered a body. Sergio Zacarías, a 52-year-old Argentine living on the street, had died of hypothermia. The alert call was immediate but that same day another homeless person died, in total five deaths were recorded for the same causes in a few days.
But along with the cold, the warmth of solidarity awoke, several NGOs immediately activated themselves with donations that they sent to families desperate for the weather, but the surprise came when the River Plate field opened its doors, the club, in alliance with some NGOs began to receive entire families who could have died outside, in the cold, if not for this valuable show of solidarity.
Unpayable heating increases the number of "refugees"
Even some families who cannot pay for heating due to the high cost of taxes have approached the courts that now, thanks to the River Plate initiative, have joined wills and there are severals that are available to help people, Gymnastics and Student clubs attend, respectively, hundreds of people every night, giving them shelter and assistance.
Some clubs offer a plate of hot food at night and others have more complete attention, with blankets and even medical attention available thanks to nurses and paramedics who collaborate in the noble cause. In the case of River Plate, perhaps because it was the first, the help is one of the most complete, even providing people with breakfast.
Results in sight
Until now, perhaps because the clubs are located in the cities with the largest population exposed to the cold on the streets, the solidarity campaign has yielded results and no new fatalities have been reported. The government of Mauricio Macri, even though his image is very disadvantaged with the homeless who are increasing in number for the 3rd consecutive year, is monitoring the situation, ensuring that more deaths are avoided.
One of the difficulties that arise in the control and care of the affected people is the marked difference between the official figure shown by the Argentine government, which barely exceeds 1,000 people, and the real figure that, until now, only those have taken refuge or received care in the stadiums added to this initiative, it is far above 6,000 people.
From now on, the situation in Argentina may be seen with different eyes as a country that loves soccer, there are many critics for an alleged laziness towards other important issues, but with this campaign, the soccer clubs show that they also love and above all they stand in solidarity with the Argentine people when necessary.
