COVID-19 Response for Displaced Communities

Many low resourced countries like South Sudan, Syria, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Iraq are home to large vulnerable populations who face day-to-day hardship even without the health threat from the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, Peace Winds ramped up support to help combat the spread of the virus particularly in communities where measures like social distancing and frequent hand washing are unrealistic due to lack of space or clean water. So far this year Peace Winds has:

• Distributed hygiene kits to the only medical facility in Juba, South Sudan accepting patients who tested positive for COVID-19. The kits included masks, disinfectant, soap, hand towels, and buckets for water storage.
• Worked with local affiliates in Syria to distribute supplies like food, water, and clothing to evacuees fleeing attacks due to the crisis that has persisted since 2011. The economy is crippled, and according to the United Nations, nine out of 10 Syrians live below the poverty line. The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has made their lives much harder.
• Rapidly reconstructed homes and medical facilities following a devastating fire in the Rohingya refugee camp in southeast Bangladesh. Additionally, along with our local affiliates and the help of donations, Peace Winds provided mobile clinics, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment, and educational resources to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in these disaster-stricken camps. 
• Delivered food kits to residents of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Travel bans and blockades in the country were strictly enforced to stop the spread of COVD-19, causing difficulty for residents who could not leave their homes even for food and daily necessities.

In addition to these efforts, Peace Winds has worked with partners to undertake COVID-related projects in northern Iraq. Peace Winds has:

• Worked with Japan Platform (JPF) to expand and improve Lalav Hospital. This project includes the installation of an oxygen generation system, medical air compressor, and ventilator equipment. 
• Worked with UNHCR to construct quarantine/isolation sites in five camps for internally displaced peoples (IDPs). Peace Winds engineers and technical staff developed designs/layout, and construction began in May 2021.
• Worked with Iraq Humanitarian Fund (IHF) to construct 21 pit latrines with shower stalls in five camps for IDPs. Four more of these latrines for persons with disabilities are under construction now. 
• Worked with UNICEF to rehabilitate a vaccination warehouse in Duhok City Center and construct a vaccination warehouse in Mosul City. Peace Winds expects to complete this project in September 2021.

While there is still a long way to go in the fight against COVID within the countries where we operate, Peace Winds remains dedicated to providing protection and increasing preparedness for the most vulnerable populations. Thanks to the help of our partners and donations from the GlobalGiving community, projects like these will continue providing hope to those who are in greatest need.

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