Help with Food
"The violence in Argentina has spread to 19 out of 23 provinces in the country, and local news describes shocking scenes: A shop owner was killed when looters set his store on fire," NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports. "Banks, supermarkets, retail businesses and public transportation have shut down in many cities." In Chaco province where Star of Hope has it's projects, the casualties include police deputy superintendent Cristián Vera, who died after being shot by looters in a supermarket.
Our man in Argentina for over 30 years is Kenth Johansson and he gives his report:
"Terrible!"
In Argentina most citizens feel insecure and afraid because of the criminal activities going on; right now, like never before. Police have gone on strike because they want a wage increase. It started in Cordoba a city in central Argentina and now the strikes spread over almost the entire country. Thus began the full on assault and looting in major department stores, supermarket stores, kiosks and even private homes. Many criminals and even ordinary citizens have been killed by the ongoing rioting.
We did not think this would spread here to our province and city Chaco but now is has! The policemen who were available fought hard against at least 500 people in the Carrefour shopping mall in our city yet thieves managed to get into the mall and looted everything they could find. The same happened at the store Musimundo with household items and electronic gadgets as well as the store Kanchef who sells everything possible quality stuff in sports. Even the wholesale firm Ariero was plundered and many smaller shops and private homes became victims.
We live in tension and fear; we try to safeguard our home and what we have. These gangs, at the same time enlist the lost and the youth as well as and other random people. They just break in everywhere and destroy the gates or doors in spite of locks and security devices and they do not fear the police nor to be filmed. It is a violent gang mentality.
It has been bad with sleep especially in the night because my son and church members had to evacuate all there was from the church tent, everything had to be moved to safety; the large closable platform, chairs, large heavy speakers, the small computers, amplifiers, electronic equipment, full set of modern music system and much more. All of it is at risk from being plundered as our armed guard cannot handle the gangs alone. Another one of our churches has sometimes been the victim of the thieves, but the guard has defended the church especially at night. By day, there are also guards whatever the case we had to run 3 trips with 2 pickups and a car to empty the churches. Now all is being stored in my home. The time was over 4 in the morning before the moving was done and all valuables moved to safety.
There is a vast activity and success in my son Pablo's church and 40 new souls were baptized on Saturday. Sad that they feared looting crews and must hide all the stuff. We'll see if the situation will improve in a week you cannot close the church. A few days are acceptable but a longer closing is more likely to adversely affect the church business. Most of the stuff had been in the tent which is a completely unprotected spot. Surely we want Pablo to quickly get the new church building finished so they could withstand an attack.
I am informing you mostly so you to pray for us and our country and know how exasperated we are right now for us and also time losses will be causing losses as well.
In the office I have given instructions on what to do at the door. Reply with entry phone or open with the chain on and keep your fingers on Police and Emergency alarm for just pushing to whether there will be interference , but that does not mean that you are protected at all.
Kenth Johansson 12-10-2013 ( sorry for the delay in the news)
