WASH project updates (in times of Corona)

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ETHIOPIA (in general)

Stand: 03. Dezember

Covid.19 update:
Total cases:112K| Recovered:77,385 | Deaths:1,724
 
Country Updates:
 
 
  • Ethiopian Refugees Worry About COVID-19 Outbreak in Sudanese Camps
Thousands of Ethiopians who fled fighting in Tigray for camps in Sudan fear a new threat — a COVID-19 outbreak. While there are no confirmed cases, concern is running high.  
The more than 40,000 Ethiopians who left Tigray for eastern Sudan over the past month have been placed in three camps in the cities of Qadarif and Kassala. 
Social distancing is difficult in the camp, where at least six refugees stay in each small tent or room, and people gather in large groups to get food, water or blankets.
 
ETH camps.jpeg
  • Ethiopian Government and UN strike deal for‘unimpeded’humanitarian access in Tigray
Confirming details of the deal at UN Headquarters in New York, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that the safe passage of aid supplies and staff also extends to the Ethiopian regions of Amhara and Afar, bordering Tigray, where fighting between federal and regional forces, has impacted hundreds of thousands amidst an overall population of six million in Tigray, during the past month of hostilities.
Until now, no supplies have been allowed into the conflict zone, which has displaced thousands, many across the border into Sudan.
UN humanitarian coordination office(OCHA)spokesperson based in Nairobi, Saviano Abreu, told local reporters earlier that the first mission to carry out a needs assessment would begin on Wednesday.
He added that the UN was committed to engaging with“allparties to the conflict” and ensuring that aid was distributed“strictlybased on needs”
ETH strike.jpeg

 

  • EU considers aid cut to Ethiopia amid violence
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Widespread conflict in Ethiopiathat has driven tens of thousands of refugees from their homes, killed hundreds — possibly thousands — and dragged in neighbouring countries is prompting questions in Europe about whether to hold back tens of millions of euros in aid to the country.
On Tuesday, Europe’s Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič will fly to Ethiopia where he hopes to convince the country’s peace minister, Muferiat Kamil, to end a weeks-old blockade for international aid organizations to Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. He will then fly to Sudan on Wednesday where he will meet Sudanese government officials before visiting refugees in Kassala and Gedarif states on Thursday. Sudan is a temporary home for approximately 45,000 refugees who have fled the conflict.  

Stand: 23. Oktober

Covid-19 update: 
 
TotalCases: 90.490| Recovered: 43.638 | Deaths: 1.371
 
2 Mio. IDP und 2 Mio. refugees currently in the whole country  
 
Ethiopia can jail people for up to two years if they deliberately violate restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, the attorney general's office said, amid concern that citizens are becoming lax after a state of emergency was lifted.
 
The restrictions prohibit shaking hands, not wearing a mask in a public place, seating more than three people at a table or not keeping"twoadult steps" - around six feet - apart .
 
Country Update:
 
The locust invasionis Ethiopia’s worst in 25 years, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO).
 
It has damaged an estimated 200,000 hectares(490,000acres) of land since January, threatening food supplies. A single square-kilometre swarm can eat as much food in a day as 35,000 people.
 
It is part of a once-in-a-generation succession of swarms that has plagued East Africa and the Red Sea region since late 2019, with the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating the crisis this year by disrupting FAO’s supply chain of pesticides and other equipment to fight them off.
 
 
Stand: 25. September
 
Covid-19 update: 
 
TotalCases: 71.687 | Recovered: 29.461 | Deaths: 1.149
 
-Ethiopia reports 604 new COVID-19 cases as total caseload hits 71,687
ETH covid.jpeg
The ministry said that it had 41,076 active cases, out of which 267 were classified as severe cases.
Ethiopia is the worst-affectedcountry by the coronavirus in the East African region. The nation’s Health minister Lia Tadesse previously warned that reckless disregard for preventive measures may cause a worst-case scenario during the peak of the pandemic.
The Ethiopian government had launchedanationwidemonthlongtestingcampaignwhich was expected to determine the next steps it will undertake in its response to the pandemic.
 
 
Country updates:
 
  • Ethiopian opposition leader Jawar Mohammedand 22 others appeared in court Monday to face charges of terrorism and other crimes. Jawar, a media mogul and outspoken critic of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, was arrested in June following the killing of popular singer Hachalu Hundessa, a champion of the Oromo ethnic group. Political analysts say the charges are likely to raise tensions in Oromia, Ethiopia's largest and most populous region.
 
  • Ethiopia braces for election amid COVID-19
    Lia Kebede told an emergency session of the House of Peoples’ Representatives the country could now hold the parliamentary election provided all the necessary precautions are put in place against the spread of the coronavirus.
     A landlocked country in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia postponed its sixth parliamentary election twice due to internal conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic.
      Last week, in clear defiance of the federal authority, the north Ethiopian Tigray regional state conducted a regional election that was categorically rejectedboth by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia(NEBE)and the House of Federation, the upper house of the parliament.
 
  • Demonetization 
Ethiopia on Monday demonetized its currencybut gave three months window to people to exchange old currency notes from the banks. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who unveiled new currency notes, claimed the step will combat hoarding, counterfeiting, corruption, and other ills afflicting the economy. The banks have been asked to start immediately issuing new notes.
 
  • Dam:Negotiations between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan come as tensions sparked after Addis Ababa’s first step in filling dam.
The exact effect of the dam on downstream countries Egypt and Sudan remains unknown. For Egyptian farmers, the daunting prospect adds a new worry on top of the other causes of mounting water scarcity.
Egypt wants to guarantee a minimum annual release of 40 billion cubic metres of water from the Blue Nile while Ethiopia fills the dam’s giant reservoir, according to an irrigation official.That would be less than the 55 billion cubic metres Egypt usually gets from the Nile, mostly from the Blue Nile.
Ethiopia says the dam will provide electricity to millions of its nearly 110 million citizens, help bring them out of poverty and also make the country a significant power exporter.
Ethiopia’s announcement sparked fear and confusion downstream in Sudan and Egypt. Both Khartoum and Cairo have repeatedly rejected the filling of the enormous reservoir without reaching a deal among the Nile basin countries.
 
Stand: 24. August
 
Covid-19 update: 25.118 infected, 11.064 recovered, 535.431 tests and 463 deaths
 
Nationwide unrest
 
  • Uprisings combined with looting  with a focus on the Oromia region and Addis Ababa, after the murder of one of Ethiopia’s most popular musicians and activists, the Oromo singer Hachalu Hundessa on the 29th June)
 
  • 160 people have died following the killing of Hachalu Hundessa, leaving the ethnically and politically riven country more divided than ever
 
Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
 
  • Ethiopia has now created facts: The first phase of filling of the dam is over and PM Dr. Abiy was able to congratulate Ethiopia on the historic day. Energy Minister Sileshi emphasizes that, despite the damming, no less water has flowed into Sudan and Egypt and that two turbines will be producing electricity at the beginning of next year.

 

Ethiopia updates 1.jpeg

 

Government crisis
 
  • Ruling party suspends 3 committee members
 
 
Good news!
 
The first fully assembled electric car in Ethiopia was manufactured by Hyundai Motors in the end of July

 

Stand: 04. Juni

 

Covid-19 hauptsächlich in Addis und in der Afar Region (dort wegen der Nähe zu Djibouti).

In Debre Markos offiziell keine Fälle - es gibt dort allerdings auch nicht wirklich Test-Möglichkeiten

 

Stand: 11. Mai

 

  • Corona-Fälle: 317 Infizierte und 5 Tote

 

  • Preise für Grundnahrungsmittel um bis zu 15 Prozent gestiegen

 

Stand 22. April hat Äthiopien offiziell bestätigt 116 Infizierte und drei Tote.

 

  • 72stündiger Wasserversorgungsengpass in Addis Abeba (wg. marodem Rohrleitungssystem)

 

  • Nationale Wahlen sind auf unbestimmte Zeit verschoben (sollten Ende August abgehalten werden)

 

RTENOTITLE

  • Der Ausnahmezustand gilt zunächst für fünf Monate und umfasst unter anderem folgende Maßnahmen: Jegliche Art von Treffen mit mehr als vier Personen sind untersagt – Händeschütteln ist verboten – es ist verpflichtend, im öffentlichen Raum einen Mundschutz zu tragen. Dabei sind auch Eigenkreationen erlaubt – solange man nur etwas vor dem Mund hat – öffentliche Verkehrsmittel und Privatfahrzeuge dürfen nur noch mit maximal der Hälfte der möglichen Passagiere besetzt sein – Kinos und sonstige Unterhaltungseinrichtungen bleiben geschlossen – Vermieter dürfen die Miete nicht erhöhen und Arbeitnehmer wegen Covid-19 nicht entlassen werden.

 

 

“Mein Freund Amsalu hat vor dem Eingang der kleinen Straße, die in ein Wohngebiet führt, einen Wasserkanister und Seife aufgestellt. Alle Anwohner, Boten und Bauarbeiter, die in die Straße wollen, müssen sich gründlich die Hände waschen. Ein Guard kontrolliert das. Das Wasser liefert Amsalu per Schlauch aus seinem Haus. Die Kosten von Seife und Desinfektionsmittel werden von den Nachbarn geteilt.” Anne Schilling, DÄV.

 

Stand: 30. März

 

a. Seit dem 12.3. haben wir in Äthiopien aktuell 21 bestätigte Corona Infektionen. Folgende Gebäude und Einrichtungen sind auf Anordnung der Regierung geschlossen: Kindergärten und Schulen, Universitäten, Regierungsbüros, Nachtclubs und Bars. Stadtverwaltung und Ministerien sind im Home Office. Einige Restaurants arbeiten nur noch im Lieferservice

 

b. Ethiopian Airlines hat einen großen Teil des Flugbetriebes eingestellt. Es werden nur noch wichtige Routen wie z.B. Rom, Frankfurt, London einmal pro Woche angeflogen. Passagiere die aus Corona Risikoländern nach Äthiopien einreisen, müssen sich in eine 14 tägige Quarantäne in zwei von ET ausgesuchten Hotels auf eigene Kosten begeben.

 

c. Bei Betreten von allen öffentlichen Gebäuden ist es verpflichtend, sich am Eingang die Hände zu waschen/desinfizieren.

 

d. Massenveranstaltungen wie Konzerte, politische Veranstaltungen oder Gottesdienste und Gebete in Kirchen und Moscheen sind bis auf weiteres untersagt.

 

e. Äthiopien hat seine Landgrenzen für den Personenverkehr geschlossen. Waren dürfen weiterhin die Grenze passieren.

 

"Bis auf Gambella haben mittlerweile alle Bundesstaaten den öffentlichen Personenverkehr stark eingeschränkt. Reisen zwischen Addis Abeba und den verschiedenen Regionen sind zumindest mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln nicht mehr möglich."

 

Das bedeutet, dass es nur eingeschränkt bis kaum Überlandbusse oder Tuktuks gibt um von einem Ort zum anderen zu gelangen. Der sog. "ban on transport" betrifft allerdings nicht den Warenverkehr.

 

Stand: 22. März

 

The first case was reported on March 12, 2020 currently, total case reached 12 but no any death report yet. The reporting is based on the examination; only few people conducted the examination. If the examination is done to the mass, the case may be more. All concerned government bodies are doing their best, but attitudinal change of the community is not to the level of the effort. Unless and otherwise we are shielded by God, we may not escape from the pandemic.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

https://www.africanews.com/2020/03/26/ethiopia-s-coronavirus-rules-crowd-ban-free-transport-regulate-essentials-etc//

ETHIOPIA (WHH)

  1. Stand: 21. April

 

Amount of budget that will be reallocated to COVID-19 response:

 

  • John’s Rig: 90.290 €
  • Sodo: 23.160 €

 

Stand: 24. März

 

Up to now, the project work is not as such affected; of course field trips and free movements are restricted by the office, some staff are informed to work from their home. We have been using WHH’s vehicle to move from home to office and vice versa (just to avoid using of public transport).

 

All concerned government bodies are doing the promotion and provisions. Up to now the things are Ok. If there is any thing that needs your support, I will communicate you. Really, thank you for all of your concern.

(Update von Alemayehu Worku, WASH-Programmkoordinator, Welthungerhilfe)

https://www.welthungerhilfe.de/corona-spenden/gefaehrlicher-cocktail-corona-heuschrecken-und-cholera/

 

https://www.welthungerhilfe.de/corona-spenden/corona-nothilfefonds-der-welthungerhilfe/#c22411

 

Sodo’s Update(InterimReport 2020)

Theproject objectiveis“Toimprove the health, dignity and nutritional status of the community in the intervention area by creating access to sustainable safe water, hygiene and sanitation facilities“.To realize this objective the following results should be achieved:
 
Result 1.Improved access to safe drinking water supply facility for 23,219 people at community and institution level
Result 2. Established access to improved sanitation facilities for additional 400 students; improved hygiene and sanitation knowledge and practices of targeted population
Result 3.Increased capacities of local government and communities to govern, manage and maintain improved WASH facilities.
 
Outputs:
 
  • During the first quarter of 2020 Shankur Health Center was provided with safe waterwhich iskey in preventing and managing the outbreakof many deadly infectious diseases including the currently occurring Corona virus(COVID-19pandemic);
  • Akaki spring developed, seven public water distribution points, 3 cattle troughs completed in good quality;
  • Three Kebeles attained Open Defecation Free(ODF)status
  • Five targeted schools perform good environmental sanitation and Hand-washing practices;
  • Water quality is adequate for drinking water;
  • WASH Co established and trained;
  • 100% of existing water schemes are continuously screened with regard to the physical status and are functional;
  • WSP is implemented and functional;
  • Reduction of drinking water fetching distance and reduced queuing(waitingtime) at water source;
  • WASH asset inventory conducted and database system established;
  • Joint planning and monitoring conducted by WHH and Becho Woreda WASH team.

John’s Rig Update(InterimReport 2020)

 
Goal:- Contributes to poverty reduction and sustainable development in the intervention Woredas of East Gojam zone, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia through WaSH improvement for 280,000 children, women and men.
 
Objectives: 
  • To improve local capacities to initiate, plan, implement, monitor and sustain WaSH interventions and
  • To improve WaSH status of Aneded, Gozamen, Sinan, Machakel and Debre Elias - intervention Woredas.
 
Outputs: 
  • 4 tool kits(pipewrenches and spanners) provided to WASHCOs;
  • 6 school clubs supported  to educate students on hygiene and sanitation issues;
  • Review meetings conducted with trained Village Health Committees(VHC),Health Extensions Workers(HEWs)and religious leaders from all woredas;
  • Refresher trainings provided on Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Approach(PHSA)for project staff with 15 trainees;
  • Experience sharing on various WASH interventions with 44 participants(Governmentaland project staff);
  • Construction of 5 shallow wells and maintenance of one well(servicingapprox. 1.500 people);
  • Ongoing construction of 4 deep wells;
  • Construction started of 6 two block VIPL at 3 schools(VIPLsare expected to serve 2.420 students/1.198 female)  and household model latrines at 11 health posts.

ETHIOPIA (MfM)

  1. Stand: 02. Mai

 

Wasserprojekte in Kooperation mit Menschen für Menschen: In Ijaji wird trotz Covid-19 und natürlich mit allen gebotenen Vorsichtsmaßnahmen, weiter gearbeitet. Und es gibt POSITIVES zu berichten: Nach 3 Fehlbohrungen war der 4. Versuch erfolgreich. Das Team ist auf Grundwasser gestoßen! Details:

 

- At what depth was water found?

152 meter depth

 

- How many attempts (drilling attempts) did it take to find water?

04 places but three was abandoned and the last one is productive

 

- How long did the process of hydrological examination (time frame) take or is it still running?

Preparation of engineering design for civil construction work is continued and will take about three months

 

- Will the work continue or not? (due to Corona)

The plan for year 2020 was drilling of borehole and conducting engineering design, accordingly the first one is now completed and report is compiled. The next step is to prepare the design and come up with the BoQ and construction cost.

 

- Does Corona influence the ongoing work and how?

The drilling and pump test was not interrupted because of corona.

Based on our agreement the first step is well completed with out interruption and we better wait and see until we finalize the design work.

 

Anmerkung: Der erste Teil unserer Verpflichtung ist ohne größere Hindernisse erledigt, nun muss die Skizze zur Anlage des Versorgungssystems ausgearbeitet werden.

Die „Design-work“ ist also für 3 Monate angesetzt. Danach sehen wir, welche Detailarbeit durchgeführt werden muss und können beurteilen, ob uns Corona bei irgendwelchen Arbeiten behindern wird (d.h. Geräte und Teile, die wir brauchen, nicht Lieferbar sind, Rohrstärken nicht verfügbar sind, etc..

 

RTENOTITLE

 

Stand: 07. April

 

Wasserprojekte in Kooperation mit Menschen für Menschen: In Ijaji wird trotz Covid-19 und natürlich mit allen gebotenen Vorsichtsmaßnahmen, weiter gearbeitet. Und es gibt POSITIVES zu berichten: Nach 3 Fehlbohrungen war der 4. Versuch erfolgreich. Das Team ist auf Grundwasser gestoßen! Fotos und weitere Infos folgen.

 

“Bis jetzt ist unsere Projektarbeit von COVID-19 noch nicht besonders stark betroffen. In den Kleinstädten wie Ijaji gibt es bereits Präventionsmaßnahmen, wie verstärkte Hygienemaßnahmen.”

 

“Die SozialarbeiterInnen führen weiterhin ihre Projektarbeit mit der Bevölkerung durch und weisen verstärkt auf die lebenswichtige Notwendigkeit der Hygiene wie z.B. das Händewaschen mit Seife und des Abstandhaltens etc. hin. Aber es gibt aktuelle keine neuen Kampagnen, was in der jetzigen Lage auch kontraproduktiv wäre, da Massenveranstaltungen ausdrücklich zu vermeiden sind.” (Update von Araba Pilic, Public Affairs, Menschen für Menschen)

https://www.menschenfuermenschen.de/news/corona-tagebuch-aethiopien-addis/

SOUTH AFRICA

(in general)

  1. Stand 13. Mai

 

  • Corona-Fälle: 14.365 Infizierte und 261 Tote

 

  • SA to move to Level 3 by the end of May - but President Ramaphosa, warns that greater vigilance will be needed as regulations are relaxed

 

Stand 01. Mai

 

Der Ausnahmezustand wird von der höchsten Stufe (5) auf 4 heruntergestuft.

 

From 1 May, South Africans will be allowed to buy winter clothes, and order fast food, but in a U-turn from what was earlier announced by the president, cigarettes will no longer be allowed to be sold.

In a briefing on Wednesday, cooperative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said the government has reversed its stance on the sale of tobacco products after considering the negative impact it might have on the spread of the coronavirus.

 

South Africa will embark on a staged reopening of the economy, starting with a level 4 on the first of May, to help slow down the spread of coronavirus, and ensure that health authorities are not overwhelmed, Dlamini-Zuma said.

 

Rules of Alert 4:

 

  • Masks are obligatory
  • Strict curfew
  • Transport limitations
  • No "recreational" visits are allowed.
  • No attending at churches or other public gatherings
  • The sale of takeaways will be permitted for delivery only -from fast food outlets and restaurants.
  • No alcohol, no tobaccos products sold
  • You can walk, cycle and run between 06:00 and 09:00 daily, within a 5km radius from your house.
  • All social work, counselling, services supporting gender based violence, care and relief activities permitted

 

Stand: 24. März

 

Although the address by the President was sombre and we are going into a21-day lockdown, SA has been proactive in its response to the pandemic.

 

“Let us hope that the epi-curve will start to flatten out and the public health authorities are able to get on top of the situation. There is a silver lining to every cloud. So, let’s take this as an opportunity to move forward with setting up of MoUs, contracts, survey methodology and work on the political economy analysis of the Eastern Cape.”

 

“Water, sanitation and hygiene projects will become a high priority and rightly so. There is no doubt that the interventions that we are proposing at schools with poor infrastructure and access to basic services are vitally important and we will use the downtime that we have to lay the foundation.”

(Update Ajay Paul, WASH program manager, VcA South Africa)

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/coronavirus-all-the-latest-news-about-covid-19-in-south-africa-and-the-world-20200312

 

https://m.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/watch-covid-19-when-25-people-are-sharing-a-toilet-20200504?isapp=true

 

https://www.facebook.com/nicole.macherouxdenault/videos/10221732880009060/die

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/aerial-footage-shows-miles-long-queue-for-food-aid-in-south-africa-idUSKBN22C1TU

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-cape-town-violent-rival-gangs-south-africa-call-truce-pandemic/

SOUTH AFRICA

(VcA South Africa)

  1. Stand: 11. Mai

 

Sticker Production in general / WASH messages

 

Stand: 22. April

 

  • Technical survey started in Eastern Cape by R4G. Kobo toolbox link with detailed survey.

 

  • Masks - 25,000 + masks in production in Portugal. Shipping route: Portugal - Germany - SA. - “Unsere Logistikfreunde von Humanilog klären gerade mit dem Zoll und der BAFA, die Ausfuhrmodalitäten aus der europäischen Union. Wir erwarten zeitnah die Genehmigung, um den Export via Frankfurt nach Kapstadt realisieren zu können.” (Update Arnd Boekhoff, Project manager VcA foundation)

 

  • Soap distribution (5,000 bars). Once-off distribution complete

 

  • 5x Hand Sprayers and protective clothing provided to Sisonke Boxing Club operating in IY township in Hout Bay

https://www.facebook.com/nicole.macherouxdenault/videos/10221732880009060/die

TANZANIA               (in general)

  1. Stand: 13. Mai

 

The US embassy in Tanzania has warned that there is a risk of "exponential growth" of Covid-19 cases in the country, at a time when the government is not releasing data on new cases.

 

The Tanzanian president is among several African leaders who have received orders for a herbal tonic touted by the president of Madagascar as a cure for Covid-19. The WHO has warned against using untested medicine.

 

On 29 April, the last day official data was released, there were 509 cases, with 21 deaths.

 

Stand: 24. März

 

The government shut down schools and universities and banned religious gatherings, internal and public party meetings for 30 days.

Tanzania, like the rest of the region, has cancelled all sporting events including the national football league for the next 30 days.

Surveillance for suspected infected travellers has been heightened at all ports of entry, but mass testing is not on the cards yet.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52646640

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/tanzania-covering-real-number-coronavirus-deaths-200511054304751.html

 

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001365344/president-magufuli-says-coronavirus-cannot-survive-in-churches

TANZANIA (WasserStiftung/ped-world)

  1. Stand: 12. Mai

 

  • Projektreise Juli abgesagt
  • Arbeiten im Projekt gehen planmäßig weiter (nach Installierung der 5 Doppelkollektoren “CloudFisher” nun der Bau von Zisternen)
  

INDIA (in general)

  1. Stand : 13. Mai

 

Corona-Fälle: 92.239 Infizierte und 2.911 Tote

Am 18. Mai wurde verkündet, wie der Lockdown 4.0 in Indien aussehen soll.

  1. Lockdown extension news live: States get power to define zones (Upper limit: 200 infected people per zone), decide on road travel

The Centre has extended the nationwide lockdown till May 31 to curb the spread of Covid-19, which has infected over 90,000 people across the country. The Union home ministry has issued guidelines listing the dos and don'ts during the lockdown 4.0, providing further relaxations with a view to open up the economy.

 

The following activities shall continue to remain prohibited:

 

The movement of individuals will remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm and 7 am, except for essential activities.

All domestic and international air travel of passengers, except for domestic medical services, domestic air ambulances and for security purposes or purposes as permitted by MHA will not operate.

All metro rail services will remain suspended.

School, colleges, educational/training/coaching institutions etc, will remain closed.

Hotels, restaurant and other hospitality services shall remain suspended.

All cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will remain closed.

All social/political/sports/entertainment/academic/cultural/religious functions/other gahterings and large congregations will not be allowed.

All religious places/places of worship shall be closed for public. Religious congregations are strictly prohibited.

 

The following activities will be allowed:

 

Hospitality services meant for housing health/police/government officials/healthcare workers/stranded persons including tourists for quarantine facilities shall be operational.

Canteens at the bus depot, railway stations and airports will also be operational.

Restaurants will be permitted to operate kitchens for home delivery of food items.

Sports complexes and stadia will be permitted to open; however, spectators will not be allowed.

Online distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.

Inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, with mutual consent of states(s) and UT(s) involved, except in containment zones.

Inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, as decided by the states and UT(s), except in containment zones.

All states/UTs shall allow inter-state and intra-state movement of medical professionals, nurses and para-medical staff, sanitation personnel and ambulances without any restrictions.

All states/UTs shall allow inter-state movement of all types of goods/cargos, including empty trucks.

All other activities will be allowed, except those which are specifically prohibited.

 

RTENOTITLE

Stand: 14. April

 

In ganz Indien gilt seit drei Wochen eine Ausgangssperre. Es ist die umfassendste der Welt. In einer Fernsehansprache hat Premierminister Narendra Modi diese bis zum 3. Mai verlängert. 1,3 Milliarden Menschen sollen weiterhin zuhause bleiben. Ausgenommen sind lediglich einige Berufsgruppen wie Ärzte, Polizisten, Supermarktbetreiber, Obsthändler, Tankstellenmitarbeiter und Journalisten. Alle anderen sollen nur im Notfall auf die Straße, um Lebensmittel oder Medikamente zu kaufen.

 

Stand: 01. April

 

The countrywide lockdown announced by the Govt led to an unexpected, unprecedented mass exodus of daily wagers/ laborer’s from many big cities, towns to the villages. With no source of earnings and no cash, these people decided to walk all the way back to their homes for hundreds of kilometers. They are hungry and tired with no sufficient food and drinking water. Parmarth is helping these migrant workers who are passing through Jhansi in large numbers. Parmarth has set up a community kitchen and are daily distributing food packets to 500 individuals. They have also started distributing hygiene kits which includes a soap, hand sanitizer and a mask. They also helped the local administration in arranging buses for these migrant workers to reach their villages. Attached are pictures from Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. (Update WHH CO India)

 

Stand: 25. März

 

India enters a lockdown phase for 21 days from 25. March 2020

  1. Things have been moving very fast from the governments’ end in India. Since midnight yesterday, the whole country is in a lockdown for three weeks till 15th April. Earlier it was districts and states that were locked down, but now everything has shut down. It is like a curfew, with only essential life saving services (food, health etc.) functioning. All government and private offices will remain closed. All flights, trains and public transport system is closed. Govt said that it is banning the export of hydroxychloroquine and formulations made from the medication, as experts test the efficacy of the drug in helping treat patients infected with COVID-19. The case count currently is 562, with 10 deaths and 39 cured. In general, there is widespread support of the drastic measures, as the nation appreciates the importance of flattening the curve.
  1. The country office took to working from home from 17th March, while project activities by partner staff in rural areas continued in general. However, gradually the state governments imposed lockdown and staff members in our 5 offices could work only from home.
  1. Since yesterday due to government advisories all the districts have been locked down. All partners office have been shut down and the teams have been asked to put on hold the activities. The effect of this will result in delay of activities and under expenditure in the budget, depending on the crisis period.
  1. Currently there is a blanket ban on all community-based activities and people are confined to their houses. It is not clear when the community activities will be allowed. Responding to Covid so far, our partners could make field visits and promote awareness on Covid 19 through pamphlets and house to house contact.

Now, they are restricted to using social media and phone calls. We are currently planning to reach out to all 500 Jal Saheli (women water volunteers) to spread awareness using social media.

We will keep you posted on the situation and what we can do to support the government and communities.

(Update von Nivedita Varshneya, Country Director, CO India)

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lockdown-4-0-in-new-form-with-new-rules-pm/articleshow/75705911.cms

 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/india/

INDIA (WHH)

  1. Stand: 02. April

 

Beginn des Projekts wurde nun auf den 1. Juli 2020 verschoben. Bis dahin – so ist die gegenwärtige Einschätzung der Kollegen – hat sich die Situation verbessert und das Projekt kann gestartet werden.

Es wird bei den Awareness- und den Capacity building activites der Fokus auf Covid-19 und WASH verstärkt/konzentriert.

(Update WHH Headquarter)

 

Stand: 25. März

 

Der Start des Helioz Projekt (SODIS/WADI) wird vorerst um einen Monat verschoben. Die indische Regierung hat alle öffentlichen Veranstaltungen untersagt. (Hause de Abreu, WHH HQ Key Account VcA Cooperation)

 

Stand 25. März:

 

The new project -Improving access to safe drinking water through solar disinfection with WADI- has components of hygiene and sanitation. The project which was scheduled to start on April 1 will need to be postponed till the lockdown is lifted. Under the project interventions, we are planning to include IEC material and activities to include awareness on Corona related hygiene, specially hand washing. What is also critical at this time is dispelling numerous rumours that are creating panic in the rural areas. Getting people access to water and hygiene programmes of the government will be at the forefront, once the situation is under control.

 

Sierra Leone               (in general)

  1. Stand: 18. Mai

 

Corona-Fälle: 505 Infizierte und 32 Tote.

 

Sierra Leone recorded zero new cases for the first time in almost exactly one month on May 12. The last time it did was on 13 April.

The total number of confirmed cases stands at 338. The death toll is at 20 whiles the recoveries are at 72. The country remains one of West Africa’s least impacted so far.

Meanwhile, a consignment of COVID-19 supplies were delivered to the country from the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, May 12.

 

Stand 31. März

 

First case in SLE confirmed…

 

Stand: 26. März

 

No corona cases yet! The country seems to be very well prepared, because they can use their lessons learnt from the Ebola crisis!

 

Sierra Leone (WHH)

Die Arbeiten im Projekt gehen planmäßig weiter.

 

UGANDA (in general)

  1. Stand: 01. April

 

  1. Brief description of if and how the pandemic has an impact on the implementation of the projects

Currently we are depending on the presidential directives to prevent further spread of COVID 19 while observing Ministry of Health/WHO guidelines. But the WASH sector has been considered essential in the response and activities are allowed to go on; Water supply, hygiene promotion and sanitation intervention. That also includes distribution of hygiene kits and community sensitization. Activities such as WASH in schools has been suspended for 32 days. Community meetings that involve more than five people have been suspended and this has effect on community health club sessions and WASH community dialogues meetings, though currently the hygiene promoter do home visits, community sensitization by use of megaphone in the village through road side walks. Construction activities is allowed to continue nevertheless, hardware shops are locked, which would hinder the progress of this construction works at some point. If the situation escalates, it may cause delay to implementation of some activities.

  1. Are actions/activities postponed and with regard to this: is still all the planned 2020 budget required?

If the situation continues like the way it is now, some actions may be delayed, but still not very clear since it is too soon to predict. I will provide this information by the end of this month since we are still within the timeframe of our implementation schedule.

  1. How much money is realistically & urgently needed this year for each project

Currently all the money requested is very vital since it intervenes in the essential actions as described in the WASH sector.

  1. Stand: 30. März

 

Points noted from the President's address to the nation on Monday 30.03.2020 at 8PM:

  1. Prohibited starting 10PM tonight: All people movement by all means including private vehicles, Boda boda etc for 14 days;
  1. Suspended for 14 days : Malls, arcades, hardware shops, Non- food shops ;
  1. Only shops selling pharmaceuticals, agricultural inputs allowed to continue operating;
  1. Super markets should remain open but with clear SOP;
  1. 5 Established food markets in Kampala and other towns to remain open. But sellers must observe the social distance of 4 Metres radius. Sellers are also barred from going back home for the duration of 14 days;
  1. Saloons, garages and lodges to close;
  1. Factories should arrange for the crucial employees to camp around the work place for 14 days. Those which cannot should close.
  1. Essential services to continue: security cos, garbage collection, banks, medical, water
  1. Cargo transport by lorry, train, Boda bodas etc to continue;
  1. Gatherings of more than five people prohibited;
  1. People stay indoors except cargo transporters
  1. Government workers to stay home except soldiers, police and others prescribed by the Prime Minister
  1. Gov't to distribute food to the needy

(Felix Ebyachu, VcA Kampala)

  1. Stand: 24. März

 

Es gibt inzwischen 30 offizielle Corona-Fälle in Uganda, sie sind alle ‚importiert‘ von ugandischen Rückkehrern aus Dubai. Es mag eine Dunkelziffer geben, die man nicht abschätzen kann. Für ganz Uganda gibt es Auflagen der Regierung, deren Einhaltung auch durch Polizei und Militär kontrolliert wird und an die wir uns natürlich auch halten. Dazu gehört die Schließung aller Schulen, die Schließung von Märkten und das Verbot von Gottesdiensten. Maßnahmen werden der Bevölkerung vom Präsidenten über Ansprachen an die Bevölkerung live im Fernsehen mitgeteilt. Es gab bisher vier solcher Reden, alle innerhalb von einer Woche, die letzte heute nachmittag.

 

UGANDA (WHH)

  1. Stand 25. Mai

Cholera Outbreak in Karamoja

 

The breakdown in the solar pump in one of the villages in Loputuk parish forcing the households to resort to river water which is polluted due to poor sanitation &hygiene and ongoin flodding. The outbreak has spread quickly to 25 villages so far , resulting in 109 confirmed cases(5 dead).

 

Measures taken by WHH

 

  • Repairment of the broken solar pump
  • Installation of Cholere Treatment Center in Lopotuk where WHH installs Handwashpoints
  • water chlorination
  • Spouts Filters for more than 300 Households and 10 XL for Health centers
  • Hygiene promotion (Radio, road drives etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Stand: 29. April

Re-Allocation of budget in Karamoja

 

Covid-19 Budget adjustment.

Hier einmal das Covid-19 Budget für das Karamoja-Projekt. Contribution: 13.450 €.

 

→ Training of Trainers: training of Community Based Facilitators on COVID 19 and use of IEC materials

→ Providing financial and in kind support to districts to strengthen their campaign efforts

RTENOTITLE

 

  1. Stand 08. April (Country Office Uganda)

 

  1. What are the planned activities with regard to COVID19 response in the projects?

WASH sector has been identified as essential by government of Uganda in regard to COVID19 response. And as such, WHH is an active member of Yumbe district COVID 19 response task force member and has been given exemption to continue with normal operation while observing the Ministry of Health Guideline.

 

Planned activities for COVID 19:

Hire additional 30 community hygiene promoters and village health team for community sensitization and supporting the distribution of WASH kits.

Distribute WASH items to 5500 households in the refugee settlement and host community of Yumbe

Distribute information education materials on COVID19

Support 08 schools and 05 health centers with hand washing points, preventive measures/ materials on COVID19

Support 700 households for elderly/persons with special needs with unconditional cash grants in Yumbe/Bidibidi

Consider 1000 households for cash for work activities and 1000 households for distribution of seedlings

Support the effort of Yumbe district task force on COVID19 on mass media campaign

Participate in joint coordination meetings at all levels within the district.

 

Are there initially planned activities which are now adapted/changed to a COVID19-response?

Hygiene promotion (sensitization on COVID19), distribution of hygiene and sanitation kits

Result 1:

Activity 2, Hygiene and sanitation kits distribution

3, Monitoring hygiene promotion (information dissemination on COVID19 as per MOH guidelines), distribution of IEC martials produced by WHH on COVID19/distribution of latrine and hygiene kits

 

Result 2:

Activity 1, Borehole routine repairs, operating and maintaining two water supply schemes in the refugee settlement to ensure constant and reliable water supply.

Participating in COVID19 coordination meetings at all levels in the district and refugee settlement.

 

  1. Stand: 25. März

 

Alle weniger wichtigen Aktivitäten in Karamoja haben wir bereits eingestellt oder wir sind dabei, sie deutlich zu reduzieren und ggf. vorübergehend ebenfalls einzustellen. Dinge, die für das Überleben der Bevölkerung wichtig sind, so Aktivitäten der Wasserversorgung und Saatgutverteilung, führen wir kontrolliert weiter, solange es keine weiteren Auflagen gibt. Trainings, Treffen von Community Health Clubs und ähnliches wurden eingestellt.

Natürlich achten wir jetzt ganz besonders auf persönliche Hygiene, Händewaschen usw., auch im Büro.

 

Die Situation ist volatil, und die Verantwortung liegt bei der Zentralregierung. Deshalb ist es für uns schwer, jetzt gezielte WASH-Corona-Präventionsmaßnahmen ad hoc Maßnahmen durchzuführen. Wir sind im Stand-by, müssen aber koordiniert vorgehen, zusammen mit anderen internationalen NGOs im WASH-Bereich und auch mit dem Distriktverantwortlichen für Wasser und Gesundheit.

 

(Dirk Ullerich, WHH Field Office Moroto)

 

Update Karamoja:

 

Bildung von Covid Subcommittee unter dem Vorsitz von UN Vetretern und Distrikt Mitarbeitern. WHH mit Save the children und C&D für WASH Sektion zuständig. Hierfür wird VcA Budget verwendet.

 

Übersicht Covid Subcommittee https://www.dropbox.com/s/9locbim1s46tvl6/COVID%20Subcommittees.xls?dl=0

 

 

NEPAL (WHH)

  1. Stand: 25. März

 

This is 3rd day of work from home for us. The government has made many decision durig this course and now whole Country is lockdown until 31st March and most lilely this will continue for couple of weeks. All our field staffs, includign partners are curriently working from home and just trying to best utilise of the time doing more preparatory and docmumentation work. So far three COVID19 cases confirmed (1 case is just confirmed while I am writing this email). I wish for no more cases, but there is high chance of more cases because those infected people came to Nepal just a week before and now government is tracking all the passengers who travelled together and keep them in isolation.

 

Saptari and Siraha are more vulnerable as these districts share boarder with India and many people returned back to Nepal this week, before country lockdown. we had printed IEC materials (related to COVID 19 information, prevention measuers and hygiene promotion and dysplayed in different places, distributed to the community) and community workers used those IEC materials. We had established handwashing platform and COVID19 informaiton helpdesk in all wards of our working area and intensive handwashing campaigns were organized. Since, movement is not allowed, COVID19 and hygiene messages is airing through local FM radio, public miking. We have done these activities through existing project.

 

Yes, at the moment we are planning to support PPEs and home based quarintine kits. Many temporary isolation wards has been established by government but healthworkers does not have PPEs and these items are shortage in market. Also, we are planning to make a home quarintine kits and support to vulnerable people, specially who recently traveled from abroad and has lacking of basic PPEs. But, these items are not avaliable in the market. We are doing quick mapping of potential suppliers as we have very limited suppliers of these items and all are stockout at the moment. we have very limited emeregency response fund allocated in the country.

 

By the time, I am reviewing our project budget if we can use for this COVID19 preparedness and response.

 

 

(Giri Khatri, WHH Program Lead, Kathmandu, WHH CO)

 

MOZAMBIK (Helvetas)

Stand: 09.06.

Preise für Grundnahrungsmittel um das teilweise 5-fache gestiegen

  1. Stand 25.05

No Updates so far, but the activities mentioned below (29.04.) are rolled out, please find new Photos in the Dropboxlink in the right column…

 

 

 

 

  1. Stand 29. April

 

To wrap it up, Helvetas concluded on a total Budget of 420.000 CHF for immediate Corona response. This includes an reallocation of 27.000 CHF of the ongoing VcA Oratta Project for more immediate measures, focusing on the following Outputs

 

1.Women and men have access to hygiene and COVID-19 messages on

prevention and access to services.

→ Translation, Printing and Distribution of Corona communication materials

→ Radio messaging etc.

2. Women and men have access to WASH for transmission prevention in vulnerable

public spaces and vulnerable and highly impacted communities/barrios.

→ Distribution of e-vouchers for soap

→ Installation and Repair of handwash stations at crucial public spaces/ communities

→ Installation of Handwash Stations at home level

→ Immediate Repair of boreholes to guarantee consistent access to water

3. District health units have strengthened capacities to prevent COVID-19

transmission through adequate case management and hygiene conditions

the following Outputs

→ Training and Capacity building for staff members

→ Installstion of Latrines & Bathrooms in Isolation centres

→ Supply of Materials like Garbage Bags, Protection Equipment, Spray, Soap, bed linen etc.

 

  1. Stand: 30. März

 

Update Helvetas global:

 

Mitarbeitende in allen Projektländern arbeiten seit 30.03. im Homeoffice.

 

4/5 aller internationalen und nationalen Reisen von Mitarbeitenden von Helvetas sind eingestellt.

 

Helvetas wird definitiv auf COVID-19 reagieren und in den Projektländern Präventionsarbeit bezüglich COVID-19 leisten, in welchen Formen ist noch nicht definitiv geklärt. In den nächsten 2 Wochen wird jedoch reagiert.

 

Helvetas-Büros in Projektgebieten sind damit beschäftigt, Homeoffice für alle einrichten zu können und derzeitige Arbeitsmöglichkeiten und Ressourcen zu klären, deshalb noch keine weiteren Informationen zu Präventionsarbeit und Informationen aus Projektgebieten.

 

Wöchentlicher Call, donnerstags 9:30h, für Update seitens Helvetas: Christiane Vögeli (Helvetas), Matthias Herfeldt (Helvetas), LB, CZ

 

Matthias Herfeldt (Helvetas) informiert über potentielle Massnahmen, die Helvetas bez. COVID-19 generell unternehmen will. (CZ, 30.03.2020)

 

Herausforderung allgemein: Menschen in den Projektgebieten zu erreichen, da Lockdown herrscht und einerseits Personal von Helvetas und lokalen Partnern geschützt werden soll und andererseits auch kein Risiko einer Übertragung in die Projektgebiete gefährdet werden soll.

 

Helvetas steht vor einem ethischen Dilemma: Alle Mitarbeitenden von Helvetas arbeiten sofern möglich aus dem Homeoffice, Helvetas möchte aber durch lokale Partner trotzdem Projektgebiete weiterhin erreichen können, will jedoch gleichzeitig lokale Partner nicht ins Feld schicken, während eigene Mitarbeitende geschützt werden.

 

Nahrungsmittelhilfe wird im Lockdown immer wichtiger werden, da will Helvetas ebenfalls Fokus setzen.

 

Es wird versucht, in gewissen Ländern eine App zu erstellen, um mit lokalen Partnern und den Projektgebieten in Kontakt bleiben zu können und auch Sensibilisierungsarbeit durch die App leisten zu können. Zudem erleichtert in gewissen Ländern das Handy den Cash-Transfer (Löhne und Zahlungen direkt über das Handy möglich, wie Twint).

 

Projekt Oratta II Mosambik:

Lockdown in Mosambik, Mitarbeitende Helvetas und Team VcA MOZ arbeiten aus dem Homeoffice.

 

Es muss mit Verzögerungen der Projektarbeit gerechnet werden. Bsp. Wäre aktuell ab März optimale Bauzeit, kann derzeit jedoch nicht in dieser Form ausgeführt werden.

 

Mitarbeitende fahren derzeit nicht mehr in die Dörfer der Projektgebiete.

 

Jahresberichte sind noch nicht ready, Cindy wird in Abstimmung mit Lars Fragenkatalog erstellen und an Christiane senden. (CZ, 30.03.2020)

 

Konkretes WASH-Projekt zusammen mit SolidarMed und Ayuda en Acción (Alliance2015) geplant in den Provinzen Nampula und Cabo Delgado für 50‘000.- Fr. (Gelder werden teils aus Glückskette mitfinanziert). Geplant ist Präventionsarbeit gegen COVID-19 mit Zurverfügungstellung von Seifen, Desinfektionsmitteln etc. und Unterstützung von Gesundheitszentren (health units) durch Materialien wie Masken, Seifen, Desinfektionsmittel usw. und Beratung im Umgang mit COVID-19. Zudem Wissen vermitteln: Infopakete sollen an Partnerorganisationen vor Ort abgegeben werden mit Plakaten und Flyern (auch in Macua übersetzt). Helvetas will Partnerorganisationen ebenfalls bezüglich Hygiene schulen, derzeit ist jedoch noch nicht klar, wie die Partnerorganisationen und die Dörfer erreicht werden sollen. Ob Asche auch als Mittel zum Händewaschen gegen das Virus genügt, ist in Abklärung. Dieses Präventionsprojekt soll ab 1. April für 3 Monate laufen.

 

Das von VcA unterstützte Projekt Oratta II bleibt vorerst genauso angedacht, wie im Projektbeschrieb. Jedoch muss mit Verzögerungen gerechnet werden bez. COVID-19 Einschränkung und Priorisierung und wegen Verwüstung durch Zyklon Kenneth 2019. Die Mittel für 2020 könnten allenfalls teilweise umgelagert werden und für Präventionsarbeit gegen COVID-19 eingesetzt werden, dies würde jedoch zuerst von Christiane bei VcA angefragt werden.

 

  1. Stand 23. März

 

Wir folgen hier der beiliegenden Matrix und sind im Moment auf Level 2. D.h. wir sind weiter im Feld, aber mit kleineren Gruppen und haben keine Reisen zwischen Maputo und dem Norden mehr (da ja gestern ein erster Fall in Maputo bekannt geworden ist). Wir organisieren im Moment auch keine Events wie Feldtage, Trainings, usw mit externen Personen.

Wir denken, dass wir bald auf Level 3 sein werden und sind deshalb an der Vorbereitung des Home offices fuer alle und der Administration dafuer. In Maputo haben wir schon Home office eingefuehrt mit einer Person, die uns im Buero repraesentiert.

Die Projekte sind im Moment in Bearbeitung eines Contingency plans gemaess dieser Levels. Da wir sich dann zeigen, was in den kommenden Tagen moeglich ist und was nicht.

Fuer die VcA KollegInnen in Maputo wuerde ich bis auf weiteres ab sofort Home office/remote anordnen, da sich sicher bald einiges tut hier in Maputo.

(Juerg Merz, Helvetas CO MOZ)

 

  1. Stand: 25. Februar

 

VCA Mozambique führt aktuell weder Events noch Volunteer-Treffen durch und arbeitet aus dem Homeoffice. Es werden derzeit neue Jobdescriptions erstellt, da aktuelle Verträge nur noch bis 31.03. laufen und durch aktuelle Situation sowieso angepasst werden müssen. (Cindy Zollinger, VcA CH)

 

As of March 24, Mozambique has three confirmed case of COVID-19. All Mozambican schools and universities are closed, and gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited. (Cindy Zollinger, VcA CH)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mozambique

RWANDA (AAR)

  1. Stand: 25. März

 

Rwanda was the first African country to go into complete lockdown in an attempt to mitigate the spread of the Covid 19 (corona virus).

 

  • The first case was recorded on March 14th
  • The Kigali international airport was closed on 18th March for both inbound and outbound flights.
  • All other land borders also closed on 22nd March.
  • Only returning Rwandan citizens and residents with legal permit will be let in on a mandatory 15 day quarantine.
  • The country is in a complete lockdown since 22nd March. Movement is only allowed when going to buy essentials like food, water or banking services. Intercity movements are prohibited and bus shuttles aren’t allowed to operate. The lockdown is enforced rigorously:
  • 2 men have been shot dead by Police enforcing COVID-19 lockdown in Nyanza district. Police says the men defied orders and attempted to grab gun from Officer
  • In Kicukiro district, 11 people have been arrested accused of undermining state authority (kwigomeka ku buyobozi) by engaging in different activities despite COVID-19 lockdown. Another group were fined total of Rwf 1.7m for opening shops
  • 19 people have been placed in mandatory quarantine in Huye, Gisagara and Nyanza districts of Southern Province after they were intercepted entering Rwanda from Burundi. 16 are Rwandans who were returning, rest are Burundians. They will be there for 14 days
  • They country as at date has recorded 40 confirmed cases of the Covid 19. No fatalities are recorded as to date. These are the highest recorded infections in East Africa and amongst of the highest per capita rates in Africa, second highest after South Africa out of the VcA project countries
  • Engagement currently difficult as no active partnership in the country as of now.
  • The whole of Rwanda only has 39 ventilators (about 10% of the ventilators/capita ratio as Germany)

(Sally Okongo, Kigali, Dennis Wolter, own observations)

 

ZIMBABWE (PLAN)

  1. Stand: 30. März

 

Uns hat ein weiteres Update zur Situation in Simbabwe erreicht, das ein paar von Dir angefragte Punkte enthält:

 

  • Laut des jüngsten Updates des simbabwischen Verteidigungsministeriums gibt es 8 bestätigte COVID-19 Fälle in Zim. Gestern Abend hat der Präsident einen Lockdown ab heute (30.03) und für die Dauer von 21 Tage verkündet. Nur wesentliche Sektoren wie das Gesundheitswesen, die Strom- und die Wasserversorgung sind davon ausgenommen (laut CO sind Banken wahrscheinlich auch ausgenommen).
  • das Plan CO hat das Lockdown-Szenario vorbereitet und alle Mitarbeiter*innen können im Homeoffice arbeiten. Dazu wurden verschiedene Maßnahmen getroffen, z.B. zusätzliche Datenvolumen / Bandbreite zur Verfügung gestellt. Die unbeständige Stromversorgung bleibt dabei eine Herausforderung. Die Sicherheitsvorkehrungen aller Plan Büros wurden verstärkt.
  • Der globale Plan Verbund ist dem UN Global Humanitarian Reaction Plan gefolgt und hat COVID-19 als höchste Notfallstufe erklärt. Plan Zim setzt die COVID-19 Sensibilisierung der Gesellschaft und Risikokommunikation fort und plant, Massenmedien (Radio und Fernsehen) für eine maximale Reichweite zu nutzen. Ein COVID-19 Response Plan ist in Bearbeitung. Stand jetzt darf Plan Zim humanitäre Interventionen während des Lockdowns fortführen.

(Nicolaye Strauch, Project Officer - Plan DE)

 

  1. Stand: 26. März

 

  • Momentan haben wir die Info, dass das CO diese Woche damit begonnen hat, potentielle Auswirkungen von COVID-19 auf die einzelnen Projekte und mögliche Anpassungen zu prüfen. Das CO hat auch kommuniziert, dass es – wie du sagst - drei erste positiv getestete Fälle (1 Todesfall) gibt, die Regierung die Grenzen dicht gemacht hat (bis auf Returners und Güterverkehr), und Versammlungen mit mehr als 50 Teilnehmenden, ink. Konferenzen, Workshops etc. verboten hat.
  • Zur Situation bei Plan: Generell wird im Plan – Verbund an einem COVID-19 Response gearbeitet. Die internationale Travel restriction gilt offiziell bis zum 30.04, aber yes, heute habe ich erfahren, dass Plan Deutschland das intern schon auf Ende Mai ausgeweitet hat. Yes, nicht überraschend bedeutet das, dass unsere Projektreise nicht stattfinden kann - wie es auch eurer konsequenten Policy entspricht (inkl. MTG).

(Nicolaye Strauch, Project Officer - Plan DE)

 

KENYA (WHH)

  1. Stand: 04. Juni

1.100 regular spouts filters and 50 XL filters will be distributed in periurban areas in Nairobi.

 

Stand: 09. April

 

The COVID-19 pandemic currently is affecting implementation of the project’s interventions because

· no community nor stakeholder meetings can be held.

· Companies have closed business thus no bulky procurement can be successful

· People are advised by the government to stay at home

However, the situation is expected to be controlled soon and that the project objectives will be achieved.

(Kelvin Shingles, Country Director WHH)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvJzg4lJ398&feature=youtu.be

MALAWI (in general)

  1. Stand: 17. April

General situation in the country

  • 14-04-2020: Press release from the president and announcement from the Minister of Health: The country will be on lockdown from 18-4-2020 until 09-05-2020.
  • Very little is currently known on how the lock-down will be implemented.
  • Meetings at district and government level are ongoing to further define the exact rules during the lock-down.
  • 17-04-2020 in the evening hours: The HRDC (Human Rights Defenders Coalition) has obtained a 7-day injunction stopping the government from implementing a lockdown of the country due to coronavirus. The judge has ordered an inter-party hearing within seven days.
  • The Attorney General initially applied to vacate the injunction, thus potentially enabling the lock-down to proceed. However, this injunction was withdrawn the day before the hearing. This has resulted in some confusion on whether a lock down will now take place or not.
  • We expect any announcement concerning this topic, probably today.
  • The general public rejects restrictions / lock down. Most people depend on daily income to survive. More than half of Malawi’s population lives below the national poverty line and has no financial reserves to stay home.
  

MALAWI (WHH)

  1. Stand: 24. April
  2. (Activities directly supported by VcA are highlighted)

 

Measures taken by Welthungerhilfe Malawi

  • Project activities that are considered essential under government regulations should continue. This includes construction of irrigation schemes and WASH (hygiene, water supply). Other activities can be put on hold.
  • The WHH field offices are open this week. Country office is open at reduced hours (from 8 – 2pm from Tuesday to Thursday) and staff is encouraged to work from home. Preparation for the possible lockdown are taking place. The Country Director continues to participate in weekly WASH cluster, Humanitarian Country Team, and INGO forum meetings.

Project activities in Dedza District

  • In general, we expect slight delays in some activities of ca. 1-2 month. As of now, the annual targets seem not affected.
  • On district level:
  • Supporting District Health Office in awareness campaigns on coronavirus, incl. distribution of flyers and posters.
  • Supporting the District Health Office in conducting awareness campaign to communities on transmission and prevention using mobile vans
  • incl. printing and distribution of IEC materials (10,000 leaflets, black & white simple printing; and 300 posters: 3 posters x100 copies)
  • Rehabilitation of 55 broken boreholes, both at schools and in communities.
  • On community level:
  • distribution of handwashing activities to health centres and markets, incl. distribution of flyers and posters.
  • Distribution of handwashing facilities and soap to 3 health centres and 2 local markets.
  • CHC facilitators are advised to supervise the existence and use of handwashing facilities in the members’ households.
  • (if possible) drilling of new boreholes.
  • On school level:
  • Rehabilitation of broken boreholes
  • In schools, together with the teachers: carrying out awareness sessions to school committees (School Management Committees SMC; Parents-Teachers-Associations PTA; Mother Groups MG; School Feeding Committees SFC) on covid-19, triggering from there to the communities.
  • Comic about coronavirus prevention, developed by WHH and WASH United, has been approved by the Ministry of Health (Education Department) and sent to HQ for correction. If possible, they should be printed and distributed asap. Target group: learners/members of School Health Clubs.
  • Preparing for lockdown: engaging extension workers, especially in agriculture, to support the agricultural activities.
  • Procurement of PICS bags to protect the delivered crops; orientation on the use of the bags and refilling of the crops

Emergency response in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp

  • Hygiene education through volunteers, radio messages, government leaflets
  • Set up of 180 handwashing facilities (buckets on metal stands) with soap; placed at market, 83 churches, offices, public spaces
  • WASH construction activities are finalized:
  • at quarantine centre: 2 big WFP tents, perimeter mesh wire fence, 4 concrete toilet blocks, soak pit, kitchen, reticulated water supply via elevated PVC tank with 2 taps connected to the health centre at the camp;
  • at reception area (to hold new arrivals for 2 weeks; 41 UNHCR family tents for up to 205 people): 20 temporary latrines with bathing shelter, 1 small kitchens, piped water connected to 6 taps.
  • Support for flooring slabs semi-permanent shelter at camp health centre.
  • Promotion of social distancing at water points; challenging due to congestion.
  • Total value of WASH Covid-19 activities currently at around 60.000 EUR. More funding is needed to cover gaps.
  • Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible to issue permits in case of a lock down.

Emergency Response in Lilongwe peri-urban areas with local partner Tingathe

  • Tingathe (local NGO in our skills up! Program) works in a marginalized urban area in Lilongwe and has started production of cloth masks and is distributing soap in their community. Tingathe is also equipping bicycle taxis with reflector vests carrying Covid-19 messaging.
  • Tingathe is active on facebook and Instagram, promoting their work and mentioning Welthungerhilfe.

Emergency Response in Chikwawa

  • Logistic support to district outreach activities (provision of car, fuel, and driver).
  • Participation in district planning meetings.
  • Plan to support handwashing stations to water points, public spaces; possibly provision of soap.

Online resources

  • There are frequent updates and new announcements made. Latest updates can be found here:

(Renata Krzywon-Schramm, HoP with input from Johannes Kaltenbach, CD WHH)

  1. Stand: 26. März

 

Here in Malawi, as you observed, no covid-19 case has been confirmed yet.

Last Friday 20th March, the president declared a state of disaster. The full text can be found here: https://web.facebook.com/malawigovernment/posts/1426187750901048?_rdc=1&_rdr.

Restrictions include:

- closure of all schools/universities/learning institutions

- prohibition of events with more than a hundred people

- international travel restrictions (suspension of visa for affected countries)

- as of now, only Ethiopian Airline is still operating (at least this week), South African and Kenyan Airlines cancelled all flights.

 

We – as Welthungerhilfe Malawi – have frequent meetings to discuss the recent developments in country regarding the Corona pandemic. In the beginning of March we developed a contingency plan, which this week has been updated (see attached). We agreed that the declaration of the state of disaster shows that the government believes that the Corona virus has entered the country, although no case has been officially confirmed yet (due to lack of testing capabilities). Based on the developments we moved to level 1. This includes all measures from level 0 and the following measures:

 

- all staff members have to be equipped with hand sanitizers

- no participation in large scale events with more than a hundred people

- no project activities that bring more than 20 people together (ensure 1.5m space between participants and a well ventilated venue)

- staff is not allowed to use minibuses (pool cars or work from home for those that have no other choice)

- prepare for home office work (airtime, processes, update contact list, ensure communication capacities)

- no travel to virus affected areas

- home office for high at risk staff (i.e. pregnancy, serious medical conditions)

 

Now, concerning our project activities in the Dedza District:

  • In schools: We distributed soap and leaflets (in Chichewa, attached) to all schools and asked the Head Teachers to talk to all school learners about the matter during the school assemblies. This was done before on Friday 20th March the state of disaster was declared and all schools closed.
  • In communities: working in the area of hygiene education through Community Health Clubs (CHC), washing hands regularly is one of the main objectives of our project. The CHC facilitators were informed to even more emphasize on that. At the same time, our field officers distribute the leaflets in Chichewa and respond to questions asked by the community members concerning the correct behavior in order to prevent the spread of the virus (distancing, hand washing, avoiding crowds).
  • Our team still continues the supervision of CHC activities in the communities (visits to individual households, together with the CHC facilitators), but does not attend the CHC sessions, since usually there are more than 20 people who come together. At the same time, we encourage the CHC facilitators to continue with the sessions, since the community members are from one village. Instead of our field officer supervising the CHC sessions, the HSAs (Health Surveillance Assistants) were asked to do it frequently.
  • The CHC facilitators were asked, in collaboration with the HSAs to develop ideas of outreach activities, i.e. what kind of actions the CHCs could do in the communities (e.g. in the markets or health centers) to raise awareness about prevention possibilities of the corona virus outbreak to as many people as possible. We will discuss the ideas together, decide and support, where necessary.
  • All other field activities continue as planned.

 

On district and national level:

  • This week we are meeting and discussing with our WASH partners, what the organisations plan to do in their respective districts. We will share the outcomes, once they are out.

 

Concerning emergency preparedness:

  • we do not know, if the government has prepared a covid-19 emergency plan, it is not communicated. The international community tries to push the government to more coordination, the will to support the government in this situation is there, but as of today, the action is not coordinated.
  • We do not know, how many ICU beds and ventilators are available, but if any, than only very few. Unfortunately.
  • In the city: we observe normal live. But, the shop owners and most institutions and organisations have placed handwashing facilities at the entrances.
  • Concerning the reaction to the news by the public: the reactions are different. In the cities, most of the people seem to know quite a lot about the virus (no pool parties etc.). But the less the people are educated, the more they believe fake news, the more they mix up the news with the traditional believes. In rural areas the knowledge level is very low, despite radio messages spread by all radio stations.
  • We have heard of few cases, that Malawians shouted “corona, corona” seeing white persons. We have no idea, how the situation may develop.

(Renata Krzywon-Schramm, Lilongwe, CO WHH)

 

SUDAN (in general)

  1. Stand: 23. April

 

Which measures were already implemented? Which measures are being discussed/planned? For example, screening at airports, school closure, restrictions of movement?

  • Mid-March Government of Sudan declares a health emergency mid-March, up to now 7 cases confirmed and 2 deaths, the situation is evolving. The Sudanese public health system is weak and case detection insufficient. It is assumed that sick and potentially infected people hide at home. End of March the Government ordered all public clinics to close.
  • large gatherings of people are restricted by the Government as of mid-March and WHH also self-restricts in light of the Do No Harm Approach and prioritizing “life-saving activities”
  • the international borders are closed and no domestic flights until 23 April (to be reviewed)
  • inter-state travel is restricted (buses, also potentially commercial transport – though situation remains ambiguous)
  • National government working hours are 8am-2pm
  • National curfew from 6pm-6am, non-essential shops (excl. groceries, fuel, pharmacy) close at 4 pm
  • There is a potential that restrictions (e.g. full curfew) increase/are extended, all depends on the developments during the months of April.

How are the reactions in the communities/general public?

  • Overall the people remain calm up to now and follow curfew – even during the day there is very little movement on the streets and in markets in Khartoum as well as in field locations; many wear protective gear such as masks and gloves; there have been some incidents of panic when a suspected Corona patient arrived to a hospital (doctors and people ran away); it has also been reported that Sudanese who had been returned from other countries and put into quarantine have fled the place and went back to their families directly.

How is the emergency preparedness? How many ICU beds and ventilators are available? Also in comparison to other African countries

  • The health system in Sudan is very weak and at the beginning of the crisis Sudan had about 11 ICU beds, the number of operational ventilators is unknown
  • Since the onset of the crisis, two isolation centres have been created in Khartoum State to treat COVID-19 patients; A government-sponsored call centre (221) was activated on 19 March 2020 to answer all questions related to COVID-19 and a hospital has been ramping up ICU beds (88 beds capacity); the details of the conditions in the isolation centers as well as the hospitals are unknown, but can expected not to come close to European standards; The government of China donated 50 ventilators and 400,000 surgical masks to the government of Sudan.

How is the outlook for informal settlements, low-income areas and in Sudan specifically in the IDP camps where social distancing and staying at home isn’t an option, because of space limitations and the lack of social security (“no work, no food”)? Are there any efforts by the government to support these camps and communities?

  • The settlements and camps where WHH works are overcrowded and social distancing is simply not possible. For humanitarian actors such as WHH it is imperative that “life-saving activities” have to continue to support the most vulnerable. WHH continues to carry out such work such as the food/voucher distributions in North Darfur, infrastructure rehabilitation to provide drinking water as well as distribution of hygiene kits to the communities. Activities are carried out by putting additional hygiene and sanitation in place such as 2 meter distancing during distributions, staff wearing protective gear, etc. Sudan is a protracted humanitarian crisis and according to OCHA´s Global Humanitarian Overview, it was estimated that in 2020 9.3 Million people will be in need of humanitarian aid. Even before Covid-19, the Government of Sudan has been relying on international support to respond to the humanitarian needs. The Government itself will be not in a position to respond to those needs as well as increased needs due to the Corona crisis. The country has been facing a macro-economic crisis with spiralling inflation and shortages of fuel and cash which is expected to worsen. The people in our communities are working mainly in the informal sector and/or are depend on the support of humanitarian assistance. The Covid-19 crisis is just starting in Sudan and restrictive measures put in place during the month of March until further notice. It can be expected that the effects on people and the formal and informal economy are devastating.

Are your offices in Sudan still open and are people still on duty “as normal”? Is home office possible or already practiced?

  • all our offices are open, but only key staff is coming to the office, some staff on rotation and/or on a needs basis. Otherwise staff is working from home office.

How does the pandemic affect your/our project work? Are emergency response measures and COVID awareness campaigns/activities planned/discussed or already underway? How are WASH and especially Hygiene messages integrated into these activities?

  • WHH continues to carry out life-saving activities such as the food/voucher distributions in North Darfur, infrastructure rehabilitation to provide drinking water as well as distribution of hygiene kits to the communities. Many of the non-critical activities, such as trainings (which usually take place in larger groups) are not possible
  • Most of our projects contain a WASH component and WHH has been coordinating closely with the MoH in our project areas to support their response plan. In the next days/weeks more Covid-19-specific activities will start including awareness raising in the communities about the disease and how to prevent it through IEC material, setting-up handwashing stations, handwashing demonstrations. There have been specific hygiene messages/materials approved by the MoH, WHO and Unicef in Sudan which WHH will be using.

(Hauke de Abreu, WHH HQ through country office Sudan updates)

 

SUDAN (WHH)

  1. Stand: 23. April

 

How does the pandemic affect your/our project work? Are emergency response measures and COVID awareness campaigns/activities planned/discussed or already underway? How are WASH and especially Hygiene messages integrated into these activities?

  • WHH continues to carry out life-saving activities such as the food/voucher distributions in North Darfur, infrastructure rehabilitation to provide drinking water as well as distribution of hygiene kits to the communities. Many of the non-critical activities, such as trainings (which usually take place in larger groups) are not possible
  • Most of our projects contain a WASH component and WHH has been coordinating closely with the MoH in our project areas to support their response plan. In the next days/weeks more Covid-19-specific activities will start including awareness raising in the communities about the disease and how to prevent it through IEC material, setting-up handwashing stations, handwashing demonstrations. There have been specific hygiene messages/materials approved by the MoH, WHO and Unicef in Sudan which WHH will be using.

(Hauke de Abreu, WHH HQ through country office Sudan updates)

 

 

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