Army helps provide services for Argentina's poor

Argentina's armed forces have joined in fight against COVID-19 with troops making food for thousands of people in impoverished neighborhoods and setting up a mobile hospital.

Argentine Army has set up military range cookers in two poor areas on outskirts of Bues Aires from which point y travel furr into neighborhoods with military trucks to deliver hundreds of portions of food per day to people in need.

With a poverty rate of more than 35%, according to latest official figures, many people in Argentina are struggling to make ends meet, so a number of people have resorted to soup kitchens.

In fact, number of people requesting food assistance has increased from eight million people to 11 million people following government lockdown to help prevent spre of new coronavirus, leaving some unable to work.

Argentina's Defense Minister Agustín Rossi believes that beyond social services army is providing, presence of troops helps keep order in se unsettling times.

Closer to center of Bues Aires, Air Force has set up a mobile hospital with 26 beds.

hospital, me of shipping containers, was used in many United Nations missions including those to Kosovo and Haiti among ors.

As of Friday new coronavirus has infected 1,265 people and killed 37 in Argentina.

In most people, new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that disappear in two to three weeks.

But in some people, especially older ults and those with underlying health conditions, it can le to more serious illness and even death.