AMERICA/CHILE - Bishops: "we expect willingness and commitment from political authorities and social leaders in order to reach a social pact"

Friday, 5 June 2020 human rights   area crisis   economy   coronavirus   bishops  

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Santiago (Agenzia Fides) - Faced with the health and social crisis caused by Covid-19, the Standing Committee of the Chilean Episcopate has called on the authorities and leaders of the country "to put an end to private interests in order to reach a basic agreement whose the goal is to redirect state resources to provide the support required by those who are suffering and for as long as necessary". In a statement sent to Fides, released on June 2, the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Conference of Chile raises its voice once again about the serious consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on life and social coexistence.
Pastors say the effect of this pandemic transcends the public health sphere and is causing social effects that can be devastating for a significant portion of the population. They refer to the drastic drop in economic activity and the substantial increase in unemployment, where important sectors have seen their incomes drop dramatically.
"The poorest often have to endure food shortages and overcrowding in their homes, which is aggravated in the case of migrants who do not have a home, a job or support networks, or that of fearful elderly in their homes without being able to go out. This crisis gets worse every day and it is possible to predict that it will continue for months", says the text.
"Chile expects, in particular from political authorities and social leaders, willing and commitment to achieve a social pact for the common good that allows to generate conditions in favor of all the inhabitants of our country, in particular the poorest. This requires firm determination to put aside private interests in order to reach a basic agreement whose aim is to reorient state resources to provide the support required by those who suffer".
Chile, like other Latin American countries, is experiencing the climate of the pandemic these days with the anguish of the economic lockdown of the whole country. To date, 118,000 positive Covid-19 cases have been registered in Chile with 1356 deaths. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 5/6/2020)


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