Caritas Vietnam at work amid economic hardships of cornavirus

The government decreed 15 days of isolation and quarantine. Misery and hunger for the poor, homeless, street vendors, the sick. Collaboration with companies, associations, volunteers to guarantee money, food, medicines to thousands of impoverished as a consequence of the virus.

Hanoi (AsiaNews) - Caritas Vietnam is committed across the country to helping people whose poverty has worsened with the coronavirus pandemic.

The epidemic that originated in Wuhan (Hubei, China) is in fact creating many difficulties for the population. The Vietnamese government has decided to quarantine and isolate all activities in the country from April 1st through to 15th.

According to the Ministry of Health, the country currently has only 265 infections and no deaths. The first infections occurred in the Bach Mai hospital, but the origin of the cases cannot be traced. Nonetheless, the quarantine imposed on the country is creating problems for the poor, homeless, street vendors, the sick, who are already living in poverty and need.

At the Caritas office in Hanoi they stress that "all these people are hungry and without money". In cooperation with the Joint Stock Company International Milk, Caritas was able to distribute 2 thousand gift packages containing rice, freeze-dried spaghetti, milk, cooking oil, fish sauce and sugar.

Since the parishes are also closed, Caritas volunteers had to wander the streets to find people in need. Each volunteer must wear a surgical mask and stay at a distance, according to government guidelines.

Even in Ho Chi Minh City the lives of the 8 million inhabitants are turned upside down. Due to isolation, people with precarious or day jobs can no longer earn anything for themselves and their families. These include lottery ticket vendors, street vendors, general workers, small shop owners ...

In Ho Chi Minh City, Caritas Saigon receives cash support from associations such as Catholic entrepreneurs, and food from companies such as Mina Food Company, Pomina Steel Company, and Ánh Hồng Company. In this way it was possible to distribute money and food to about 5 thousand people.

The Caritas groups of Haiphong (in the north), distribute money, food, medicine. Two weeks ago they took a course to learn how to respond to coronavirus with prevention measures. Caritas members consider themselves "soldiers" fighting the war against the "Wuhan virus".