Many people are facing unemployment difficulties during the epidemic. The Hong Kong Red Cross launched the "Happy Food" plan in April this year to distribute food stamps to low-income citizens for three months.
Due to the overwhelming response of the first phase of the plan, the project will again "add food" in September this year. It is estimated that 300 low-income families will benefit nearly 900 people.
Su Wanxian, Chief Executive of the Red Cross, pointed out that Afghanistan and Haiti are currently facing crises. The International Red Cross is doing its best to rescue there. It is issuing the "2021 Haiti Earthquake Urgent Appeal" to raise funds to support local humanitarian relief efforts.
Su Wanxian said that the Red Cross used to send more rice and food during disaster relief overseas. "Hong Kong has never suffered major disasters in the past, but the new crown epidemic really affects people's livelihood. After internal efforts have been made, it is decided to put overseas disaster relief experience into the local area." From April to July this year, the "Enjoy Food" project was implemented in Hong Kong to provide low-income families with food stamps for three months.
The second phase of the plan will be launched from September to November, from Sham Shui Po District to Yau Tsim Mong District, Kwun Tong District and North District. It will support 300 low-income families and 900 people are expected to benefit.
Su Wanxian said that although the Red Cross is not a poverty alleviation organization, the epidemic is severe.
When the first phase of the plan was implemented, the Red Cross provided 85 low-income families with a total of 303 people and provided food stamps worth about 2.06 million yuan. Each person can receive food stamps worth 75 yuan per day. Can receive about 9,000 yuan in allowance.
The recipient can go to more than 60 designated restaurants or shops with the voucher in exchange for equivalent food.
The Red Cross Society staff in charge of the food stamp program will first go to the district to inspect suitable cooperative restaurants.
Su Wanxian said that during the process, she was also worried that the cooperative restaurants were also under pressure during the epidemic. Fortunately, the restaurants helped each other out and described each other as being very humane.
Haiti's magnitude 7.2 earthquake disaster relief work encounters multiple challenges from epidemics and typhoons
In addition to supporting the local community, the Red Cross is also committed to sending personnel to carry out humanitarian relief work around the world.
On the 14th of this month, a 7.2-magnitude extremely shallow earthquake struck Haiti, which killed at least 1,400 people and injured nearly 7,000.
Su Yuenxian said that it is the local typhoon season. Heavy rains may cause flash floods. The earthquake has also caused the collapse of more than 7,000 local buildings, including residential buildings, hospitals and roads, making it difficult to carry out rescue work.
Su Yuenxian described that Haiti is facing multiple disasters. The number of confirmed cases of the new crown virus in the region has increased sharply. The socio-economic situation has deteriorated and the domestic situation has been disturbed, which has affected the livelihoods of local residents.
The Red Cross is now issuing the "2021 Haiti Earthquake Urgent Appeal", hoping to raise funds to support local humanitarian relief efforts.
The chaotic situation in Afghanistan, the Red Cross tries its best to rescue with mobile medical vehicles
Afghanistan is now back to power by the Taliban. Su Wanxian said that the Hong Kong Red Cross has been in contact with the International Red Cross Society and the Red Crescent Society has also had nearly 1,800 people assisting there.
Su Wanxian added that after the local civil war in mid-August, nearly thousands of people were injured by gunshots every day. The Red Cross received about 300 emergency medical assistance cases every day, but the transportation network and medical system in various places were destroyed and paralyzed, and there were power outages. The situation, coupled with personal safety considerations, makes rescue work extremely difficult due to various factors, and the Red Cross can only transfer mobile medical vehicles to try their best to rescue.
01News
The Red Cross has launched a paid internship program to recruit university and middle school graduates. The Red Cross refuses to choose a committee member stating that it will not participate in political elections and sends a letter to the government requesting removal from the Zhengzhou flood | The government allocates 8.51 million from the disaster relief fund for disaster relief Agency will distribute food to 60,000 victims
