Fundraiser launched to support at-risk-families during isolation caused by coronavirus outbreak in Mongolia
Published: Mar 16, 2020 Reading time: 3 minutes
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (16th March 2020) – The Government of Mongolia has closed all schools and canceled all public events and gatherings until the end of March in an effort to contain the outbreak of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. While this action has helped to reduce the spread of infectious disease, it has had negative repercussions on vulnerable households. The quarantined schools and kindergartens are putting vulnerable children at increasingly higher risk as they heavily depend on their daily school and kindergarten meals for their main source of daily nutrition.
“From our initial observations we have found that the social isolation measures taken by the government are negatively affecting children’s education and nutrition. This situation is particularly difficult for parents who rely on the services of 24-hour kindergartens,” says Baasanjav Ganchimeg, Emergency Response Manager, People In Need.
The ‘Clean Hands Project’ – a coalition of private and public sector partners – has provided hygiene and nutrition kits to 250 households in Ulaanbaatar (Khan Uul, Bayanzurkh, Bayangol, Songino - Khairkhan and Chingeltei districts) in February.
“The main beneficiaries were children and their families from the 24-hour kindergartens and these children are either orphans, belong to families that have single parent, unemployed parents, or have parents with disabilities. The households and the children were defined as the most vulnerable by the social welfare assessment,” explains Baasanjav Ganchimeg.
Coronavirus in Mongolia
“This is an extremely challenging situation for the Government and residents of Mongolia. People in Need is grateful to the Government of Mongolia for their ongoing efforts to protect the public health and to all of our partners, particularly the Namuun Children’s Foundation, for their continued support,” says Tim Jenkins, Country Director, People In Need Mongolia.
People In Need, through the generous support from individual donors of PIN’s Club of Friends in the Czech Republic, provided 5,000 EUR to support the procurement of hygiene and nutrition kits. The Namuun Children’s Foundation has provided more than 5 million MNT (1500 EUR) through in kind donations, with the National University of Medical Science valuable technical knowledge and the Mongolian Collegiate Basketball Association providing a team of volunteers.
However, the Clean Hands Project team acknowledges that additional support is needed. Breathe Mongolia and Mongolia Live, together with PIN, have launched a global fundraising campaign – asking for cash donations to reach an additional 300 children and their families. A donation of 40USD can support a child’s nutrition and hygiene for one month.
All of the families will be provided with an information leaflet on preventive measures against coronavirus outbreak, a nutrition kit, and a hygiene kit. We’ll also be working with local volunteers to train each individual household on how they can protect themselves from influenza and/or the coronavirus.
Clean Hands Project Partners: The Ministry of Education, People In Need, the Namuun Children’s Foundation, Breathe Mongolia, Mongolian National University of Medical Science, Mongolia Live, Mongolian Red Cross Society, and the Mongolian Collegiate Basketball Association.
People in Need (PIN), an INGO based in the Czech Republic, launched programming in Mongolia in 2009, when it provided emergency assistance to herders affected by severe winter conditions (dzud). With the goals of saving lives and protecting dignity, empowering people and supporting sustainable living, PIN established its permanent presence in Mongolia in 2011.
For more information get in touch with:
Timothy Jenkins, People in Need Mongolia Country Director, timothy.jenkins@peopleinneed.cz, phone: +976 9984-0013
