Report from Bijendra Aryal, Nestling Trust Director, Kathmandu
The number of Covid-19 infected people has now reached forty seven. As the number increases people are panicking - they fear that the government will increase the 'lockdown' and this will result in people dying of hunger rather than by COVID 19. The reason is that they have lost their jobs and livelihoods and so have no money to buy food. People are returning to their villages without caring about the possible effect of spreading the coronavirus, people are going on trucks and busses. There is a lack in coordination and effective management. It is affecting everyone but especially the underprivileged - children and families are suffering.
Only the big supermarkets are allowed to open so people think that government is discriminating against the small shopkeepers who have been forced to close.
There is a lack of awareness of social distancing. Hundreds of people gather in public places to get food and that has increased the chances of spreading of virus. We don’t know how many people are infected, one family who has been sewing and distributing masks was found infected with corona today.
In the villages there is a greater lack of awareness, due to gatherings and partying ,whole villages could be infected.
When 'lockdown' is over and people start to come back to Kathmandu from the villages then the situation in Kathmandu will be made worse. Hospitals will struggle, already it has been announced that there is scarcity of blood in blood banks.
The number of Covid-19 infected people has now reached forty seven. As the number increases people are panicking - they fear that the government will increase the 'lockdown' and this will result in people dying of hunger rather than by COVID 19. The reason is that they have lost their jobs and livelihoods and so have no money to buy food. People are returning to their villages without caring about the possible effect of spreading the coronavirus, people are going on trucks and busses. There is a lack in coordination and effective management. It is affecting everyone but especially the underprivileged - children and families are suffering.
Only the big supermarkets are allowed to open so people think that government is discriminating against the small shopkeepers who have been forced to close.
There is a lack of awareness of social distancing. Hundreds of people gather in public places to get food and that has increased the chances of spreading of virus. We don’t know how many people are infected, one family who has been sewing and distributing masks was found infected with corona today.
In the villages there is a greater lack of awareness, due to gatherings and partying ,whole villages could be infected.
When 'lockdown' is over and people start to come back to Kathmandu from the villages then the situation in Kathmandu will be made worse. Hospitals will struggle, already it has been announced that there is scarcity of blood in blood banks.
Thousands leave Kathmandu for their villages. Due to 'lockdown' no jobs and no money.
No social distancing as many crowd into lorries!
No social distancing as many crowd into lorries!
For many walking is the only option - journeys can take 7 to 10 days
Exhausted Families Rest Enroute To Their Villages
