With limited masks and disinfectants for sale, and the price of these items soaring in Hong Kong, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 is affecting vulnerable groups most as many of them can’t shoulder these expenses. Even with the temporary stabilisation of the prices of these items, the epidemic is continuing to spread unabated, and is still putting pressure on these groups. That’s why we at Oxfam Hong Kong (OHK) have been working with underprivileged groups – like street cleaners and sanitation workers, low-income families, ethnic minorities, the elderly, chronically ill, and visually impaired to fight against the epidemic.

DISTRIBUTING RELIEF AND PROMOTING HYGIENE

Protecting Frontline Cleaners

With the continued spread of the virus, cleaners have been put on the frontlines to keep public hygiene in check. Without even basic protective equipment like masks, they are put at great risk. Since the beginning of February, we have been working with various partner organisations, including Catholic Diocese of HK Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Workers, the Cleaning Worker Union, and Health In Action to distribute the masks and hand sanitizer. Together, we have distributed 37,000 masks and shared ways to prevent the spread of the epidemic, and have reached close to 4,000 cleaners who work in high-risk conditions. We have also distributed hand sanitizer to some of these cleaners.

According to the Cleaning Worker Union’s estimates, around 20 per cent of outsourced cleaners from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department are ethnic minorities, and many are Nepalese. Since most information about the epidemic in Hong Kong is either in Chinese or English, it can be difficult for some ethnic minorities to understand. During distributions with our partner organisations, Health In Action and Cleaning Worker Union brought translators along to explain how they can help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the language they are most comfortable with.

Advocacy: Care for our cleaners

While distributing masks and hand sanitiser, we worked with our partners to interview 149 cleaners from across 15 districts to understand cleaners’ working conditions during the epidemic. The results were announced at our joint press conference on 18 February; many interviewees said they were ill equipped. We thus urge the government and outsourced cleaning companies to provide cleaners with the protective equipment they need.

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Offering Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups Relief

Aside from reaching cleaners, we have also been distributing masks and hand sanitizer to various vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and chronically-ill who find it difficult to go out to buy these items. We have also reached over a dozen groups that work with seniors, low-income families and children from South Asian communities in Tung Chung, Kwai Chung, To Kwa Wan and Tuen Mun. These communities have received masks as well as leaflets in various languages about how to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Before Chinese New Year, we at OHK distributed 12,000 bottles of Walch hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes to members of over 20 local organisations. These included the Community Development Alliance, and Society for Community Organization, which work with low-income families; the Catholic Diocese of HK Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Workers, and Cleaning Worker Union, which work with street cleaners; Concerning Home Care Service Alliance, which support elderly, chronically ill patients as well as carers; and organisations that work with the ethnic minority population. We also distributed 600 bottles of Walch hand sanitizer and 768 packs of antibacterial wipes to members of the Hong Kong Blind Union.

Easing the Financial Burden on Poor Families

Distributing Rice to Low-Income Families

To ease the financial burden on low-income families, especially with the price of necessities like masks going up, we at OHK began distributing six tonnes of rice to 2,540 families with partner organisations like 1 Step Association, Alliance for Children Development Rights, Alliance for Protection of Low-income Families, Community Development Alliance (Tin Shui Wai), H.K.S.K.H. Tseung Kwan O Aged Care Complex, and Society for Community Organization.

We would like to thank Health In Action, Tianjin Bird’s Nest (HK) Company Limited, Li Ka Shing Foundation, Koo Tin Lok Charitable Foundation, singer JW (Joey Wong), Active Concept and all donors for donating masks, hand sanitizer and other items to enable low-income and vulnerable communities better protect themselves against COVID-19. We at OHK are currently discussing the next phase of our work with our partner organisations. We’ll continue to source masks and other items to ensure the poor are well protected against this epidemic, and ease their burdens. We’ll also continue to urge the government to do their part to protect the poor during this difficult time.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

Street cleaners are often seniors; with long working hours along with their unfamiliarity with shopping online, it’s extremely difficult for them to get their hands on face masks. Oxfam Hong Kong staff distributed masks to cleaners at the Java Road Refuse Collection Point during their break.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

Staff from Oxfam Hong Kong and Health In Action explained how to put on and take off a mask properly at the Oil Street Refuse Collection Point.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

The demand for masks among cleaners in Sheung Shui was evident after they began lining up immediately after learning that there would be a mask distribution.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

Oxfam Hong Kong staff gave street cleaners in Siu Sai Wan masks during their lunch break so that they would be better protected from the novel coronavirus.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

Health In Action volunteers showed cleaners the seven steps of hand washing.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

The sincere appreciation cleaners showed us made us feel just how worried they were without a sufficient supply of protective equipment.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

Cleaners at Yiu Tung Estate, Shau Kei Wan, holding the masks they received.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

According to the Cleaning Workers’ Union, an estimated 20 per cent of outsourced government cleaners are ethnic minorities, and many of them are Nepalese. Oxfam Hong Kong staff recently distributed masks at the Lan Kwai Fong Refuse Collection point; most of the cleaners there were Nepalese women.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

Cleaners at the Lan Kwai Fong Refuse Collection Point – many of whom were Nepalese – showed their appreciation after receiving masks.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

Health In Action, our partner organisation with whom we distributed masks, brought along a Nepali translator to share prevention information with the cleaners, as many of them are most comfortable speaking Nepali.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

The Nepali translator showed cleaners how to wash their hands properly.

Distributing Masks to Cleaners

Some ethnic minority cleaners neither speak Chinese nor English. So, sharing hygiene information with them in their native language enables them to learn about sanitation more effectively.

Offering Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups Relief

Many seniors from poor families were grateful when our partners visited them and gave them masks, as many of them avoid going out so they can use fewer masks.

Offering Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups Relief

Caring for one another has become particularly crucial with the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Offering Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups Relief

Much of the information about the novel coronavirus in Hong Kong is in Chinese or English. Since not all ethnic minorities understand these languages, our partner Health In Action distributed leaflets printed in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and other languages.

Offering Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups Relief

In Hong Kong, seniors, chronically ill patients and low-income families who can’t afford to travel too far often find it more difficult to get a hold of masks and disinfectants. Oxfam Hong Kong provided them with support before Chinese New Year.

Offering Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups Relief

We distributed the hand sanitisers and wipes Walch donated to us to seniors with limited mobility people from low-income families.

Offering Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups Relief

The visually impaired individuals’ sense of touch is crucial. With the shortage of disinfectant, however, they’re at greater risk of catching the virus when they go out. It’s especially crucial for them that they have hand sanitiser and wipes

Offering Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups Relief

We distributed hand sanitiser and antibacterial wet wipes to the visually impaired through the Hong Kong Blind Union to reduce the risks they face when they go out.

Distributing Rice to Low-Income Families

Oxfam Hong Kong staff and volunteers divided the six tons of rice into 2 to 2.5 kg packages within a few days, and immediately transported them to our partner organisations’ distribution points in various districts, so people from low-income families could benefit from the distribution as soon as possible.

Distributing Rice to Low-Income Families

We distributed rice and masks to people from low-income families through our partner Tung Chung Community Development Alliance.

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