Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been causing havoc across the

globe. Besides the tragic toll on human life, with countries shutting
their borders and quarantines, economies have taken a huge hit.

The tragedy has also begun to unfold in India since the first reported
COVID-19 case (3 March 2020). India’s active COVID-19 case count have
spiked to over 125,000 and the numbers are increasing alarmingly. The
Government has been actively working towards stemming the outbreak.

A severe lockdown of nearly two months has been put in place in all the
states. The number may increase by another two to three months depending
on the situation.

A large segment of the unorganized sector nearly 60% of the Indian

workforce are daily wage workers, gig-economy workers and petty
businessmen do not have the necessary resources to survive. They rely on
their daily wages to arrange food for their families.

The situation in West Bengal is grave. The Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, Government of India has identified 170 COVID-19 Hotspots across
India. Of these, 123 districts have been classified as ‘hotspots with
large outbreaks’ – the ‘red zones’.

Kolkata and Howrah are termed as “Red Zone” as they have more than 50
COVID-19 cases and multiple COVID-19 micro hotspots within the city. The
lockdown, which was started on 24 March, has been extended to 30 June
based on virus containment.

The current scenario shall encourage huge job losses and negatively
affect their physical and mental health.

WE IN ACTION “FEED AND PROTECT 10K FAMILIES” CAMPAIGN

To respond to this humanitarian call, on 29 March, The We Foundation
arranged Covid relief package and has started “Feed and Protect 10K
Families” Campaign for the daily wage earners and low-income group living
on the streets and slums of Kolkata, Howrah and rural areas of South 24
Parganas and North 24 Parganas Districts.

With the support of benevolent donors and in close coordination with

Kolkata Police and Municipal Corporations, we have already reached3000
poor families (15000 Population, Family Size:5) with dry food staples,
community kitchen for homeless and personal hygiene kits.

The We Foundation’s Rapid Response Team is working in arranging covid

relief fund in India, to close coordination with Government and local
police to ensure social distancing in the locations we provide relief
kits.

TWF trained workers are complementing the efforts of Government by

addressing the shortage of health workers and providing support for
active case searches by organizing community-based rapid screening of
families while we are distributing relief kit to the families.

Suspected COVID-19 cases are linked with Government health facilities

with the help of Local Police and Block/Municipal Administration.
With your support, we shall cater to another 7000 families and even more
until the cases abate and these families overcome the mental and physical
shock to earn their livelihood again.

Relief Locations:
City slums and streets in 7 wards of Kolkata Municipal Corporation,
Kolkata, West Bengal
Slums and streets in 5 wards of Howrah Municipal Corporation, Howrah,
West Bengal
Sandeshkhali-I, Sandeshkhali –II, Haroa and Hingalganj Blocks of North 24
Parganas district, West Bengal
Kakdwip Block (2 GPs), Pathar Pratima Block (4 GPs), Mathurapur-I (2
GPs), Mathurapur-II (2 GPs), Joynagar-I (2 GPs).
Relief kits to children and families:
Grocery Kit: Rice, Dal, Potato, Edible Oil, Soyabean, and Salt.
Infant and children food: Health drink (canned milk) and Biscuits.
Personal Hygiene Kit for women and children: Hand and Bath Soaps,
Reusable Masks, Sanitizers, Detergent Bar and Sanitary Napkin.
Education kit: Pen, Pencil, Sharpener, Note books and other supplies to
continue education at homes
Support To Government Hospitals, Isolation Units, and ICDS Centres
As the active COVID-19 case count in India increases to more than 70,000,
there is a high demand for PPE and other safety gear across Hospitals and
Isolation Units.

Hospitals are, therefore, optimizing the use of PPE and other safety
gear. The frontline health workers conducting house-to-house visit in
micro hotspots need safety gear to protect themselves and people
associated with them from the deadly disease.

Due to the spurt in cases, the doctors and hospital administration are
finding it difficult to build the morale and confidence of nurses and
other paramedical staff within such a limited time.

A fear factor and family & community pressure are further deteriorating
the situation. As per media news, at least 350 nurses in Kolkata have
quit their job and left for their hometown.

Doctors and counselors say that social stigma associated with COVID-19 is
the cause. In support of our frontline COVID-19 Warriors, The We
Foundation has been providing the following services as covid relief
fund.

Standard PPE Kit and other safety gears such as N95 masks, Infrared
Thermometers to Government and Charitable Hospitals to help fight the
disease.
Given PPE kits to a Hospital in Howrah Municipal Corporation Facilitated
interface between HMC and Lions Club of Rabindra Sarovar.

The club provided PPE Kits, Sanitizers, N95 masks, hand gloves to
frontline health workers of Foot-operated Handwashing stations with soap
dispensers at strategic locations.

Foot-operated Sanitizer Dispensers at strategic locations in hospitals

and isolation units.
Life-saving Ventilators to Government Hospitals, Charitable Hospitals and
other Covid-19 hospitals.
Masks and sanitizers to ICDS Centers through Department of Social
Welfare, Government of West Bengal, local police stations Given 500
reusable masks to ICDS centers in Kolkata through department of Social
Welfare, Government of West Bengal Given 100 masks to local police
station.

Expected output within 6 months:

Provided food security to children and families, personal hygiene,
education and other relief kits to 10K Households.
Curbed the spread of the infection in areas of operation by 70%.
Generated mass awareness on COVID-19.