In the current COVID-19 pandemic state, it was a good decision to close down offices, shops and malls according to Bharat Kumar, Community Mobilizer at Community World Service Asia in Umerkot. “I will secured and protected when working from home, however, it is not easy. The strict lockdown in the city have deserted the streets and market areas. No one is to be seen in the streets. It is not a comforting sight.

The district administration and security departments are putting all efforts to ensure social distance through the lockdown and barriers all over the roads. It is still disappointing to see how some people are still not taking this situation seriously. They are going out without wearing masks or gloves. The police however is playing an important role in sensitizing the people whenever they see them not wearing the protective gear.

The social media has been filled with many awareness messages and precautionary measures the families have to take to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It is difficult to see children not playing or families not meeting their relatives or friends. We hope that this situation settles down soon and people can move around freely like they used to.

Partan Rai, residing in Umerkot, shared that fear of disease is not as frightening as the fear of running out of food. People working in the labor force, earning daily wages for their families have been most vulnerable in this situation. They are unable to find work which does not allow them to earn money. It is difficult to make ends meet for them especially.

We are trying to stay at home as it is the safest option. As a humanitarian worker, I feel vulnerable as I am unable to help those in need at these gravest times. I have been nominated to be part of the Corona Relief Committee to serve my community. I feel proud and am prepared to perform any task appointed by my organization to help those who have been affected by this difficult situation.”

Mukesh working with Community World Service Asia in Umerkot shares his experience of the current situation. “The closure of offices have put on hold all activities. People are living in isolation, shops are closed and no one is risking going out.

Mostly daily wagers are suffering due to the current lockdown situation. They do not have the resources to serve to their families as they cannot earn money at this time. During my interaction with some people regarding COVID-19 awareness, a labourer, Ghulam Hussian, shared that fifteen workers, including him, have not been able to work at the construction site as a result of the lockdown. Jobs have been finished as the contract ended.

Government and district administration are taking initiatives to combat with the virus. They have formed committees to build awareness and sensitize people regarding coronavirus. A local shopkeeper, Ramzan, in Malkani Sharif shared that he has limited resources to sell in his shop. He fears that if he run out the resources, it will get difficult for the people in the community as there are limited shops that sell essential goods in Malkani Sharif. People will have to travel long distances which is more crucial as the lockdown has forced public transportation to stop.

This is a scary situation for my family. I am the sole bread earner in my family. If the situation is not controlled and this lockdown is extended for more months to come, it will become difficult to manage resources. I am very anxious due to the current situation, because there are some people who are not taking this situation seriously. They need to take preventive measures in order for things to become normal again.

As a responsible citizen, I am taking steps to build awareness among my family and relatives. I am constantly sharing news and updates on social media and advising people around me to follow the instructions given by the government of self-isolation, staying at home and avoiding gatherings. Moreover, a group of us, mostly my friends, have distributed one thousand brochures which provide information to prevent the spread of this disease in Badin and Umerkot districts. In addition, we have also provided food assistance to the vulnerable communities.”

COVID-19 is rapidly spreading globally and taking many precious lives from more than 177 countries. To mitigate the current situation, Sphere has developed a document, Sphere standards and the Coronavirus response, which can help organizations build awareness on how individuals, communities and humanitarian actors best respond to the COVID-19 outbreak? How can the Sphere Handbook guide our response? The document is available on Sphere website.

In Pakistan, Community World Service Asia, took the initiative to translate the guidelines from English to Urdu and Sindhi for the organizations working in response of COVID 19. The translated version of guidelines have been shared with Accountability Learning and Working Group (ALWG) and with Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN) for further sharing with their partner organizations. The guidelines have also been disseminated to groups on WhatsApp.

The Capacity Enhancement Program (CEP) team is regularly conducting Skype meetings with different organizations and networks regarding the current emergency of COVID- 19 to know their strategies in current situation and what measures they are taking to overcome the losses. Below are the glimpses of discussion points.

• Most NGOs & INGOs working from homes, following the instructions of government.
• Only the health and awareness related activities are commencing through different methods.
• Many organizations like Agha Khan Foundation, Secours Islamique France (SIF), Pak Mission Society, Doaba Foundation are devising their strategy to work in this emergency.
• In discussion people shared that this emergency is very unique and we don’t have any experience in this emergency, so we need time to devise the strategies.
• As we are in capacity building program, we are proposing few online courses for people who need assistance regarding COVID-19.

The labor class and daily wage workers are most vulnerable because their livelihood is disturbed.

“Since Corona became a pandemic, our lives have changed a lot. Everyone is staying at home to prevent the spread of the deadly disease. We have been directed to continue our official work from home.

 There are pros and cons of working at home. The two hours consumed in the travel time, to and from home to office, are being utilized in work. However, I miss spending time with my colleagues as they served as a source of motivation and energy during work. The lunch breaks at the office were a time to mingle and socialize with everyone in the office. The refreshed us physically and mentally. Asking colleagues how they are doing or how their day been so long or playing small games after lunch brings joy and relief to us. That is what I miss the most.

When I look out from the window of my room I see cars parked in the streets outside their homes. The streets are deserted streets which is stressful sight. But it is a relief to see that families are safe and sound at their homes.

 I had to go to the hospital to vaccinate my one month old daughter. The streets and markets in Islamabad were quiet, with no one out. The Government has ordered businessmen to close all shops other than pharmacies, hospitals, grocery stores and petrol pumps. My visit to the grocery store was not pleasing as well. A person or two were to be seen wearing protective masks and gloves. Even the shop keepers have gloves and masks on to protect them.

 The Pakistan Army and policemen our working together and are stopping people who they seem are in groups and giving them awareness regarding the steps that they can take in prevention of this disease. They are encouraging people to stay at home rather than going outside with no urgent purpose in mind.

 The fast pace life did not gave us much time to spend with our families. This critical situation, however, has forced every person to stay at home and spend time together at home. I am very hopeful that things will get back to normal soon, hopefully in a few months. We must be hopeful at this difficult time!”

final Minutes call COVID-19 situation

ACT Japan Forum Update
Emergency Response to Typhoon Hagibis in Japan

After Typhoon Faxai that majorly struck the Kanto Region on September 9th 2019, Boso Peninsula have got devastating damage due to Typhoon Hagibis that made a landfall to Japan on October 12th. Typhoon Hagibis has torn off plastic sheets with which the Self-Defense Forces officers and firefighters attempted to repair roofs of the affected people’s houses as emergency response to Typhoon Faxai. Torrential rainfall that subsequently hit the area on October 25th 2019 caused rain leaking through the roofs.  Tateyama City in Chiba Prefecture, where ACT Japan Forum’s assistance was focused, had to face these series of disasters in such a short period.

However, Social Welfare Council in Tateyama City decided to close their volunteer center while many of the affected houses had been left unrestored. The temporary disaster waste dumping site was closed by the city government subsequently.  As a consequent, a number of the affected people, particularly the vulnerable people including the elderly, had been left behind before they rebuild their lives. The Japan Forum started to lead the response through the Social Welfare Council in Tateyama City in which the majority was heavily affected in order to provide the vulnerable people with supports since the end of October in cooperation with a faith-based international NGO, Operation Blessing Japan. Those targeted people whom Japan Forum has worked for are mostly the elderly who are not be able to remove fallen trees and clean mold spreading in their houses due to constant exposure to rain.

During the response, in total 107 affected households were supported by 179 volunteers who came to Tateyama City through the Japan Forum. One of the achievements in the response is that local CSOs and church took over the supports for the affected people after Japan Forum withdrew.

In order to prepare for another disaster in the future, ACT Japan Forum is building a network in Japan and a new program in collaboration with partners for the vulnerable people who are hard to be reached in disasters based on their lessons learnt from the response to the disaster in this time.

• By end of January, NCCP had completed its emergency response to the Mindanao earthquakes which happened in the months of October and December last year. Through the ACT Alliance Rapid Response Fund, NCCP provided food packs to 2,035 affected families in the provinces of Cotabato and Davao del Sur. Medical mission and psychosocial support activities were also undertaken by NCCP member churches belonging to the Cotabato Regional Ecumenical Council (COREC).
• NCCP and World Renew raised an appeal in February to respond to the multiple disasters in the Philippines in the last quarter of 2019, affecting about 5.8 million people across eight out of the Philippines’ 17 administrative regions.
• As part of their advocacy for COVID-19, NCCP strongly urged the Philippine government to enhance its (whole-of-society) coordination mechanisms to involve civil society groups and engage the communities in responding to this emergency rather than a whole-of-government and military approach. NCCP also pushed for more efforts in educating the public for community quarantine and increase the support for frontliners, particularly medical staff, and mass testing.

Find here the statement from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines: https://www.facebook.com/nationalcouncilofchurchesinthephilippines/posts/2213705968938177

Community World Service Asia Booklet Q&A for PCM – January 2020