COVID Response

LEDARS (Local Environment Development and Agricultural Research Society) is a local none profit charity organization working in the Sundarbans region since 2003. LEADRS always response quickly in different catastrophes and another critical situation since its inception. Currently LEDARS has been working in 4 upazilas in Satkhira and Khulna district, what are poverty striken upazilas in the country. The global COVID-19 epidemic started to spread second week March in Bangladesh and Government declare lockdown all over the country. After that poor people in coastal area were started to face crisis. Even, they do not know how to manage the COVID situation. Considering the situation LEDARS has been started its COVID response since 2^nd week of March 2020 in Sundarbans area. Following activities has been done by LEDARS by this time.

1. Activities accomplished by 20 April 2020

1. Response Area

1. Summary of the materials distributed under COVID-19 response

1. No of people receive support by LEDARS

1. Leaflet distribution among community people

CORONA virus has collapsed all the inter socio-cultural activities in more the 212 countries in all over the world and it is epidemically spread out by 3.5 months. Bangladesh has identified corona virus affected COVID 19 patient by 8 March 2020 and it has been spreading quickly. Most of the people in remote area do not have Covid management knowledge. Beginning of the COVID response, LEDARS quickly print leaflet on Corona management information and disseminated to community people specially day laborer, van puller, shopkeeper, tea stall owner, easy bike driver and passenger, school student, teacher etc. Till now LEDARS distributed 20,000 leaflets. The leaflet contains information of Corona information, how it is spreading, sign of Corona positives, prevention and techniques of hand washing. The leaflets have been printed by financial assistance of Bread for the World and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).

Area wise leaflet distribution.

2. Hygiene Package distribution:

As most of people in Sundarbans area are poor and hygiene materials are not available in local market, LEDARS distributed hygiene package to vulnerable 1060 families in Shyamnagar, Asasuni and Koyra Upazila of Satkhira and Khulna district. Each package contains 2 detergent soaps, 500 gm bleaching powder and 4 face masks. This hygiene package has been distributed by financial assistance of Bread for the World and Christian Aid Bangladesh.

Area wise support distribution.

3. Hygiene Package distribution in religious institution:

LEDARS distributed awareness materials and hygiene package among community people to prevent COVID-19 in Satkhira and Khulna district. LEDARS observed that people are gathering in Mosque and Temple without any protective measure. In this regard, LEDARS has taken quick initiatives to distribute the festoon with Corona Virus preventive information and hygiene materials to Mosque and Temple to control spread of COVID 19 pandemic. Till now LEDARS has been distributed hygiene package to 240 Mosques and temples. 2 detergent soaps, 1 KG bleaching powder and 3 face masks, 1 festoon included in this package. This hygiene package has been distributed by financial assistance of Bread for the World and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).

Area wise distribution of hygiene package in religious institutes;

4. Emergency Food Supply:

Due to COVID lockdown, income scopes severely reduced. Day laborer, van puller, easy bike driver, transport worker, fisher man, Sundarban resource dependent people, tiger widows, women headed family, transgender group fallen in the food crisis due to reduce the daily income. In this situation, LEDARS has started to provide the food support for vulnerable households. 850 families got this support. In first phase LEDARS distributed food package to 350 families what contains rice 4 kg, Dal 1 kg, Soyabin Oil 1 Liter, 2 detergent soap and 500 gm salt. Another food package has been distributed to 500 families which contains rice 7 kg, Potato 3 kg, Dal 1 kg and 2 detergent soap. The last food package has been distributed to tiger widows’ families what contains rice 30 kg, dal 2 kag, salt 1 kg, vegetable oil 2 liters. The food distribution program has been inaugurated at 1^st April 2020 by SM. Jaglul Haider, MP, Satkhira-4. At the second and third food package distribution has been inaugurated by Mr. Ataul Huque Dolon, Upazila Chairman, Shyamnagar Upazila. This food package has been distributed by financial assistance of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), UK Aid, Christian Aid and LEDARS staff members own contribution.

We are grateful to our donor organization (Bread for the World, Christian Aid, Manusher Jonno Foundation(MJF) LEDARS staff members and well-wisher who contributed money for above initiatives.