ASSISTING COMMUNITY TO COPE WITH EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN MUHANGA DISTRICT

Briefly

The covid-19 pandemic has increasingly marked its effects since the first case was registered up to now. The speedy spread of the virus has attracted   reactions and aggressive preventive measures by governments globally and some of these are lock-down and social distancing in attempt to control the virus outbreak.

Rwanda was not immune to this pandemic. The first case was registered on 14th March 2010 and  on 21st  March  the government  ordered  the total  lockdown  for all activities  except  essential services such as bank,  hospitals shopping  and others considered as essential and authorized movements.

Concurrently, the April rainy season has not been friendly to communities. As it was expected in weather forecast of Rwanda Meteorological Agency, the ongoing heavy stormy rains (Expected in March- May 2020) took  lives of citizens (58 countrywide  ), destroyed hectares of cropped land (4,140.298 countrywide and  14.32 in Muhanga District) and houses (3666 countrywide)   and other assets infrastructures across the country.

Particularly in Muhanga District where SDHA operates its community projects, 3 people have died of disaster; 14.32 hectares of crops   swept away, 113 houses damaged while 12 classrooms also were destroyed.  Land slides and flooding cases are still being recorded leaving social economic and environmental serious effects.

What are the Challenges?

This bi-faceted crisis of COVID-19 lockdown and extreme weather are affecting the country and the majority communities’ members living of agriculture or those temporary jobs in informal sector (around 90%). Moreover, the crisis is disproportionately threatening the already vulnerable groups made of namely children, women, and widows and youth as well as aged and disable people.

The current lock down and said hazards threatening people and their livelihoods need emergent responses and combined effort and solidarity to save lives and prevent more losses and various chocks.

What is the Solution to the emergency?

SDHA has been working with communities in Muhanga, promoting of Hygiene, Water and Sanitation.  We have assisted primary schools and delivered food and promoted nutrition and hygiene practices among admitted patients at the hospital since 2014 to date. As the COVID19 Pandemic was looming, SDHA thought on how to act as one of local Humanitarian organizations in the country. To this end, so far, SDHA members, volunteers and friends have managed to raise FRW 500,000 which is approximately USD600 aimed at assisting needy community members affected by COVID19 and the natural hazards.

 We have the target to assist 100 households and the raised funds can only cover 20 households. The demand is much higher than available means of support (material and financial).

Your donation can be invaluable in this initiative. It will help curb effects of COVID-19 under the current lockdown and the related aftermath. SDHA is closely working with local authorities.  The all collected donation will be used to:

  • Provide foods and essential equipment to the most vulnerable members of the communities
  • Provide sanitary and protection kits for safety, hygiene and sanitation namely soaps and masks  where deemed essential
  • Community awareness on corona preventive practices among other necessary responses.

Accountability, transparency on donation use

SDHA adopted and strictly follows/sticks on humanitarian intervention principles and related policy. Your donation to this initiative will help us to bring response to this emergency and support vulnerable and struggling communities during this bi-faceted crisis. To this effect, SDHA is committed to updating you regular via email and online platform calls on the plan and use of donation for both participation and accountability purpose.

Any donation from you will bring impacts to people affected by the current pandemic

How to donate

All donation are channeled to SDHA/ Emergency response account by bank transfer, and PayPal platform

ACCOUNT:  217/216514/5101/1 (RWF): SDHA PROJECT

HEAD OFFICE
Guaranty Trust Bank (Rwanda) Ltd
KN 3av, 20
P O Box 331 Kigali

Telephone:

 

+250 788 149 600

E-mail:

 

inforw@gtbank.com

Swift Code/BIC:

 

GTBIRWRK

    Email: info@sdhaction.org /sdhaction@gmail.com

Website: www.sdhaction.org

Contact

For more information and clarification feel free to inquire on the following address

  • Tel: +250788304990 ( SDHA legal Representative)

Email : info@sdhaction.org /sdhaction@gmail.com