Snapshots from around the world: Our COVID-19 response

DRC community members in line for Coronavirus services.

March 27, 2020 • UPDATED May 12, 2020

The world is facing a rapidly evolving pandemic.

COVID-19 has spread to more than 198 countries and is now reaching communities most vulnerable to the health and economic impacts of its spread. People fleeing conflict, living in poverty or without access to healthcare face the greatest risk.

From Craig Redmond, our Senior Vice President of Programs: “In many areas not yet informed through radio, television or the internet, Mercy Corps teams are the first to reach communities with critical health and safety information.”

COVID-19’s impact where we work

Map of where covid-19 is and where mercy corps works. — Mercy Corps works in more than 40 countries around the world on the frontlines of today’s biggest crises. As the virus continues to spread globally, it is now reaching countries most vulnerable to the health and economic impacts of its spread. (Information updated April 20, 2020)

Working in more than 40 countries around the world on the frontlines of today’s biggest crises, we are already on the ground where help is most needed. We’re providing information and resources for safe handwashing and adapting programs so life-saving support can continue in the face of this new challenge.

Take a look at what our early response to COVID-19 looks like around the world:

Graduates of our tailoring program in Somalia are now playing an indispensable role in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. At our training center, recent graduates are making face masks from locally available materials as a way to make additional income and protect their communities.

In many areas, we are the first to reach communities with critical health and safety information. In Lebanon, our teams are visiting Syrian families living in informal refugee settlements to distribute bars of soap and share reliable information on reducing transmission of COVID-19.

Sharing accurate information is key to preventing the spread of disease—especially in tightly-packed displacement camps. In Somalia, our team conducted awareness training in five camps for displaced Somalis sharing critical information on social distancing and hand-washing.

In Pakistan, our teams are posting public awareness messages regarding COVID-19 on rickshaw vehicles.

In Syria, the spread of coronavirus brings the prospect of a deadly outbreak to a population with tightly-packed camps. Our teams are sharing information about COVID-19 and hand washing best practices with people who have been forced to flee their homes.

One of the most effective ways to help people overcome hardship is to give them cash. Unlike supplies, cash transfers deliver immediate relief, while empowering families to make their own choices around what they need most. In Myanmar, we recently distributed cash and launched the country’s first-ever electronic voucher system.

Food security and chronic malnutrition were already widespread in parts of Africa before the spread of the coronavirus. In Niger, our teams met the immediate food needs of vulnerable populations through cash distributions so they can buy the items they need most.

With Colombia under quarantine, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants and refugees who work informal jobs – like selling food on the street – are now unable to earn any income. We’ve scaled up our programs to reach nearly 90,000 people over the next 15 months with emergency cash assistance.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, our teams are continuing emergency cash distributions for families while practicing the best mitigation measures for COVID-19.

To keep newly displaced families safe and healthy, our teams in Syria are distributing hygiene and kitchen kits.

Before COVID-19, vulnerable communities in Mali already faced significant challenges of food insecurity. Our teams are continuing to safely support their needs, taking preventative measures while distributing emergency food vouchers and other critical items like hygiene kits.

We are adapting programs so support can continue with appropriate social distancing. During the distribution of building materials for permanent shelters in Nigeria, participants were taught the importance of hand washing, and social distancing.

The importance and urgent need for your support has never been greater. Help ensure the ongoing delivery of our life-saving programs and reduce the health, economic and psycho-social effects of the crisis on the most vulnerable

COVID-19: Help protect vulnerable communities

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