As food shortages threaten millions through Africa, parts of Asia and Central America, 18,000 children are at risk of starvation in Argentina, a country named after the French word for “money,” and once known as “South America’s breadbasket.” In Tucuman, Misiones and Sante Fe Provinces, 85 children already have died of malnutrition.

World Vision’s Chile office will raise money to replenish community dining rooms run by the Salvation Army and Caritas Argentina. World Vision also will work with the Anglican Church of Tucuman to help the hardest-hit families create vegetable gardens near their homes. World Vision in the United States has sent clothes, medicine and medical equipment to help Argentine families affected by the plummeting economy.

“It’s ironic that a country named for its wealth would face this kind of hardship,” said Carolyn Rose-Avila, World Vision’s regional relief manager in Latin America. “Regardless of where the blame lies for the country’s financial problems, the lives of thousands of children still must compel us to help.”

After decades of government corruption and poor financial decisions, Argentina faced economic crisis last year as banks closed for more than a week. Since then, growth has been minimal and the Argentine people continue to struggle. Currently, more than one in five Argentines is unemployed, and more than half of the country’s population lives below the poverty line.