INDIA/NEPAL COVID RESPONSE
ACCI Relief is responding in various parts of the world to the current global health crisis of COVID-19. Unfortunately, a crisis such as this often disproportionally affects those living in poverty. We are working closely with our field workers and partners as they outwork activities aimed at preventing the spread of the disease and providing emergency support to families in crisis.
INDIA
Recently a new COVID-19 outbreak has emerged in India; a country with a large and dense population, making it the harshest COVID wave yet. India is getting an average of over 380,000 reported COVID-19 cases per day, which continues to rise. With medical supplies and hospital beds running detrimentally short, tragically, India is having over 3000 deaths per day.
In a desperate measure to bring the situation under control, many states have announced curfews and lockdowns. With a complete lockdown comes job loss, food insecurity and economic vulnerability. This has caused significant challenges for millions of migrant workers and daily wage earners who have travelled from rural areas to earn livelihoods for their families. Having to return home to their families means a complete loss of income.
Considering the current situation, two of ACCI Relief partners have launched responses to COVID-19. Vision Rescue and EFICOR are working extremely hard in responding to the COVID-19 crisis in India:
Vision Rescue
Vision Rescue has been given permission to continue to work during the recent lockdown. They are continuing to work with slum communities in Mumbai who have been severely impacted by the national lockdown. Many families who rely on daily wages have no alternative source of income and are now running out of food. Funds will assist Vision Rescue in being able to provide much needed food rations to families in need, and medical supplies to health centers working extremely hard with limited resources in the current crisis.
To support Vision Rescue in these efforts, please follow the link below:
https://donate.accir.org.au/form-4411820/R030
EFICOR
EFICOR is responding to support 12, 000 families in target locations of Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. With the closure of most businesses and employment opportunities in the cities due to the curfews and lockdowns, millions of migrants and daily wage labourers are fleeing back to their hometowns with no savings to bank upon. Funds will help provide families with food relief and help create job opportunities for returning migrant workers. EFICOR is also supporting those who are experiencing additional vulnerabilities such as single headed households, the elderly and those living with a disability.
For more information on how you can support EFICOR click on the link below.
https://donate.accir.org.au/form-4702842/R146
NEPAL
Like neighboring India, Nepal is experiencing a devastating second wave of COVID-19. Daily cause numbers have reached nearly 10,000. However, due to low testing levels, the true numbers of cases are unknown. Currently in Nepal there is a 44% positive rate of testing. The countries health system is currently overwhelmed due to the sudden spike. Lockdowns are in place, which have a huge impact on people’s ability to feed their families. There are strong fears that Nepal will very soon be facing the same catastrophic impacts of COVID-19 that are being seen in India.
Our KFT partners are supporting vulnerable families and their children, financially impacted by this crisis. A situation like this can easily push the families we work with into serious crisis. Funds will help our social workers address specific emergency needs for families most at risk.
Many families who rely on daily wages have no alternative source of income and are now running out of food. Funds will also assist in-country partners to provide much needed food rations to families in need.