These are families without homes or resources, including Chileans and immigrants, who lived in tents or shacks improvised with wood, plastic or cardboard, here called ‘rucos’, lacking the most elementary sanitation services.

The Minister of Social Development and Family, Giorgio Jackson, said they were transferred to shelters or temporary housing, with particular priority given to children, women and the elderly.

The central Executive, the Police, municipal and local authorities, as well as those involved in the situation, participated in this task.

According to Jackson, a process of identification of each of the persons and the determination of the migratory status of the foreigners was also initiated, with the objective of seeking ways to regularize them.

More than 195 children and adolescents were assisted in this operation through which important public spaces were recovered for the benefit of the population.

The mayors of Santiago Centro and Providencia, Irací Hassler and Evelyn Matthei, respectively, the two municipalities most affected by the problem, were present at a press conference to report on the results of these actions.

Hassler said the recovery of public areas and the generation of humane alternatives for homeless people are urgent tasks in the country and must promote structural changes.

Previously the authorities carried out similar operations in Plaza Italia and Meiggs, emblematic neighborhoods of Santiago.

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