Miral has conducted support for the vulnerable in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It has been almost 9 months that we face this unusual time caused by COVID-19, yet we still struggle with coping with this COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, as of 2 September 2020, there have been 25,602,665 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 852,758 deaths, reported to WHO. Widespread of COVID-19 has been significantly accelerating in Africa and South-East Asia where the health and medical sector still taking a step for development. We, Miral Welfare Foundation, have constructed the vulnerable-focused-aid plans which mainly concern PWD, children, and refugees, and eventually aim to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t have any information on how to prevent contagion from COVID-19. No one told me for instance that I have to sanitize my cane, I have to rely on my own common sense and knowledge… As a blind person, I have to touch surfaces to move about and use my hands a lot. Social distancing is another barrier for me, as I often have to have a guide at close range.”

- Akinyi (Kenya, 36, Female, pseudonym)

People with Disabilities Threatened by COVID-19

Oloya Willies, a 25-year-old deaf man, lost his legs resulting from getting shot by the militarized local defense unit (LDU's, as they are commonly known in Uganda). He had no idea that the Administration of Uganda decided to lockdown for guarding the country against COVID-19 and broadcast it. Not knowing of that information, Willies faced LDU’s and ended up being shot. It can be said that the lack of accessible official information regarding COVID-19 is the cause for him to be injured badly. Not only Willies but also other people with disabilities in developing countries face a deficiency of availability to access notice relating to the COVID-19.

Retrieved from “International Disability Alliance” Articles (2020.04.22)

http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/uganda-deaf-man

Children Threatened by COVID-19

COVID-19 causes the deteriorated competences among the vulnerable in developing countries, which results in fatal malnutrition among their children. Scalar, a 10-year-old girl who lives in Cebu, Philippines, is the case. After Scalar’s dad had passed away, her mom went to Saudi Arabia to support and raise their 7 household members. Since COVID-19 occurred, her mom has lost her job and came back to Philippines and still has put in quarantine. Scalar’s family now faces severe threats due to a lack of food. Her sister passed out for malnutrition as she couldn’t get much food. The aforementioned are just the tip of an iceberg. As COVID-19 has been widespread all over the countries, schools have suspended and lots of children prohibited from coming to class, lack of education is getting worse ever. It still increases the peril that children encountered in their lives like child abuse, early marriage, neglect, adolescent pregnancy, child labor, etc.

Refugees Threatened by COVID-19

Now, Syrian refugees who stay at the refugee camps in Lebanon are under the regulation of Lebanon’s government. With a strict restriction, only one person is allowed to go out for buying daily necessities including food, which deteriorates into the difficulty of obtaining food. It is assuredly getting worse as Lebanon’s government excludes the refugees from their supports. The refugees said that it seemed to back into 2011 when the war occurred and they feel overwhelmed by misery and fear from COVID-19. Habib is a 17-year-old boy, working in a garage. Despite his age, he already became the head of his household on behalf of his father. Now Habib stays at the refugee camp where keeping social distance and defending the infection are almost impossible. Habib is scared to lose his family again in the situation that he cannot go to work due to COVID-19 plus even reaching out to the hospital for getting help is not easy.

“IN A CLOSED, DETENTIONLIKE SETTING, THE PANDEMIC WILL SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE. THAT'S ONE OF THE WORST SCENARIOS.”

-  Paul Spiegel, (Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health)

We focus on the most vulnerable who struggle with this situation.

We, Miral Welfare Foundation, have supported 19,569 people through our 9 branch offices in different 8 nations by giving them hygiene kits with masks and food packages, since COVID-19 outbreaks burst. For our support, we contacted the vulnerable first ? PWD, Children, Refugees ? in an “untact” way via phone or social network and assessed their situations as well as their requests. Then we packed the kits and delivered it to meet their needs.

Miral’s COVID-19 Response Dashboard
(As of May 18, 2020)

Since this pandemic disease turns out to be a long-term disaster, we approach the clients following each of their needs. First, for children and refugees who encounter the financial crisis, we hand them the kit composed of daily necessities, personal protective equipment (PPE), and food. Also, for local health centers, medical clinics, and hospitals, not only do we come up with the facilities such as masks, hand sanitizers, medical protective gowns, and water tanks, but we also offer them disinfection services. For persons with disabilities who desperately struggle to get COVID-19 information, we inform them by publishing the brochures and posters. We, of course, provide a medical kit to prevent an aggravation of the situation if the cases are severe. Lastly, we cooperate with the community health workers and build the network system so that health services can reach out to the vulnerable.

We are here for you, that’s what friends are for. 

We, Miral Welfare Foundation, will go on with our helping services until our clients get a smile back on their faces. We also keep our eyes on all Willies, Scalar, and Habib in developing countries and tell you how they make their lives better in a pleasing way with your sincere love. Please be with us so that our neighbors - PWD, Children, and refugees - who struggle the challenges finally can get through and shine again.