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A study by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the National Institute of Statistics (INE), which reflects the damage caused by COVID-19 in the country’s homes, delivered this day the Ministry of Social Development.
The COVID-19 Social Survey, whose field work was carried out throughout the month of July this year until August 7, accounts for the socioeconomic impacts that the pandemic has had on Chilean families, revealing that 59, 4% of households state that their total income decreased during the emergency. 41.5% of households estimate that their income was half or less than half the level they had prior to the crisis, while 3.1% stated that household income was reduced to zero.
Likewise, the survey indicates that 48.8% of households state that their income is “not enough” to finance their expenses, a figure that rose from 16.5% who were in similar conditions before the pandemic.
As a survival mechanism, 40% of households acknowledge that they got into debt during the pandemic, either by requesting a loan or credit from a bank or other financial institution, family, friends, neighbors or acquaintances, withdrew money from a credit card or from a business home or used a line of credit.
In addition, 65.6% acknowledged that they have postponed health treatments during the emergency and 53.7% of households indicated that they reduced their assets, through the sale of goods, savings, leased or sold properties.
In order to tighten their belts, households acknowledge that they have reduced food expenses (54.6%) and the interruption in the payment of basic services such as water, gas, electricity, telephone, among others (44.1%).
There is also worrying evidence in terms of quality of life, because 19.4% face problems of food insecurity, and 21.4% present a moderate or severe level of anxiety and / or depression.
Unemployment goes up
In terms of employment, there are also disturbing figures, because in 38.4% of households the number of employed persons decreased, a figure that also far exceeds national unemployment, which is around 13%, according to the latest official figures available.
The lack of work is more worrying in households headed by women, and households in the two poorest quintiles are the most vulnerable, with between 30% and 40% of households in this situation.
Additionally, the survey reveals important gender inequalities, which have been amplified. Men and women have stopped working in the same proportion, but unemployed men are looking for work in a higher proportion (55%) than they (36%). Along with this, inequality in the burden of unpaid tasks within the household has been perpetuated.
Responses to the crisis
In conclusion, as warned by Undersecretary Alejandra Candia, “those most affected by the crisis are households headed by women, those from the most vulnerable quintiles and those with the presence of children and adolescents, those who face a more complex situation in this emergency”.
Meanwhile, Minister Karla Rubilar said that “these results confirm that the pandemic has affected all families, but allows us to look closely at those who are experiencing a more complex situation and who require greater support in these difficult times ”.
For her part, the UNDP resident representative in Chile, Claudia Mojica, specified that the current crisis will have unprecedented impacts on the human development of the countries, and highlighted that “these data will allow the design of responses to ensure a recovery that is inclusive , leave no one behind ”.
The objective sample of the COVID-19 Social Survey corresponded to approximately 4,5 thousand occupied private homes and considered surveys in all regions of the country.
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