Covid-19 Response
This is a time of great uncertainty and anxiety for us all. The Covid-19 virus outbreak has brought the type of humanitarian crisis normally associated with poor, unstable and distant lands to our own doorstep and threatens our families and communities.
As we are seeing in many countries around the world the poor are disproportionately being harmed by the virus and there is grave concern about its impact in developing countries in the coming weeks and months. The worst is yet to come for most developing countries and the fear is this new crisis will simply add an additional layer of hardship to the original problems and compound the suffering of the population still further.
As an international NGO delivering support in several developing countries we recognise our responsibility to keep staff, partners and beneficiaries safe during this crisis. We are doing this to the best of our ability. However, we feel we can and must go further not only to maintain the vital services that conflict affected communities rely on but to also play our part in the battle to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus and more loss of life. As such we have launched an emergency appeal to secure funds to:
- Disseminate Safe Behaviour & Hygiene Information – This communication will help to raise awareness of the pandemic and ensure communities are equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves and minimise transmission of the virus;
- Emergency Hygiene Protection Kits – The content of the kits will include one or more of the following – facemasks, protective gloves, wet wipes, soap and sanitiser. The kits are designed to keep families well and slow the transmission of the virus;
- Emergency Food Parcels – In extreme poverty people have to choose between staying in doors to prevent the spread of the virus and going to work to keep their families fed. Not going out often equals not eating. Therefore, we will provide emergency food parcels to the most vulnerable people and families who are isolating or complying with restricted movement requirements; and
- Improvised Technology – A shortage of ventilators in developing countries has already been identified as a significant risk which is likely to exacerbate the crisis in the poorest parts of the world. We have therefore been working with one of our research & engineering partners and together we have come up with an improvised low cost ventilator that can be in service in a matter of weeks and is easily replicated.
With our global reach and network of partners The SBCF is ideally placed to play our part in halting the spread of the Covid-19 virus in countries such as Cambodia, Jordan and Iraq. Covid-19 messaging as well as the distribution of hygiene kits and food parcels will take place in all three countries. 84,000 vulnerable people will be reached by our hygiene and safe behaviour messaging, 37,000 will receive hygiene protection kits, 6,500 will get emergency food parcels and 1,220 Covid-19 doctors, nurses & patients will benefit from new PPE and medical equipment.
The initial target for the appeal is £130,000. We urge you to support this appeal and together we can play a vital part in stopping the Covid-19 virus and protecting some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Please go to justgiving.com/campaign/Covid-19-Emergency-Response to donate.
HOW WILL THE MONEY HELP?
Funds from the appeal will be spent in a few different ways.
The most wide ranging will be the spreading of SAFE BEHAVIOUR & HYGIENE INFORMATION. This will help to raise awareness of the pandemic and ensure communities have the knowledge to protect themselves and minimise transmission.
In addition to this, funds that we raise will go towards providing food parcels, hygiene kits, and medical equipment.
£10 COULD PROVIDE A HYGIENE KIT FOR A FAMILY FOR A MONTH
These will include one or more of the following – facemasks, protective gloves, wet wipes, soap and sanitiser. The kits are designed to keep families well and slow the transmission of the virus.
£25 COULD PROVIDE A FOOD & HYGIENE KIT FOR A FAMILY FOR A MONTH
In extreme poverty people have to choose between staying in doors to prevent the spread of the virus and going to work to keep their families fed. Not going out often equals not eating. We will provide emergency food parcels to the most vulnerable people who are isolating or complying with restricted movement requirements.
£150 COULD PROVIDE AN IMPROVISED VENTILATOR TO A HOSPITAL / CLINIC
A shortage of ventilators has been identified as a significant risk which could make the crisis worse in the poorest parts of the world. Working with one of our engineering & research partners we have come up with a pioneering low cost ventilator that can be in service in a matter of weeks and is easily made.