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Peru: Government evaluates additional measures for families vulnerable to crisis

16:50 | Lima, Jun. 2.

The Government is evaluating extra measures to protect vulnerable families in the face of the crisis generated by the spread of COVID-19 in Peru, Economy and Finance Minister Maria Antonieta Alva announced on Tuesday.

"We are evaluating (…) some additional measures for vulnerable families, but these will be announced once they have the approval of the Council of Ministers," she said in her virtual presentation before Congress' COVID-19 Emergency Monitoring and Disaster Risk Management Commission.

The high-ranking official affirmed that President Martin Vizcarra's administration is aware of the sacrifice that the state of emergency means to families. Thus, the bonus delivery is an accurate proposal.

Yet she acknowledged that the bonus program faces two structural problems: low levels of financial inclusion and the informality existing in the country.

"The idea is that all of them help all families who need help. We are budgeting the delivery of bonuses for approximately seven million families who will benefit from them," she stated.

On May 25, President Martin Vizcarra assured that his administration will make the efforts required to assist vulnerable households by granting them the Universal Family Bonus with the aim of mitigating the pandemic impact.

On that occasion, the Head of State said that the corresponding calculation had been made based on the households existing in the country, 6.7 million of which should each benefit from the bonus worth S/760 (US$223).

Today, Alva also noted that the delivery of food resources for three million families is being ensured through the State-run Qali Warma Program and the reopening of soup kitchens.

The presentation took place within the framework of a mandatory social isolation imposed to prevent the COVID-19 from further spreading in the South American country.

Initially set to last from March 16 to 30, the social isolation measure was extended until June 30.

(END) RGP/JJN/MVB

Published: 6/2/2020

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Peru: Government evaluates additional measures for families vulnerable to crisis

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