Red Cross Provides Cash Assistance in response to COVID-19 impact

With support from the Swiss Red Cross, Ethiopian Red Cross Society has granted socio-economic assistance through cash modality to households impacted by COVID-19 pandemics in Arbaminch city of the Gamo Zone of South Nations, Nationalities and People Regional State of Ethiopia.

Each household receives a total amount of Birr 12,000 per person with Birr 1,000 payment in every month – an amount in cash equivalent to twelve months of a full food ration. A total of 60 households benefitted from this cash assistance distributed Birr through Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.

Zenebwork and Moges are just two of the 60 beneficiaries in Arbaminch city. Zenebwork Degife, a 28 year old, who is asthma patient. She was working on petty trade. Due to the impact of COVID-19, Zenebwork says she was in a severe problem. It makes the work to be difficult since it forbids any contact. “I was even in difficulty to feed myself once a day,” says Zenebwork, adding that she couldn’t pay house rent and living with other people as a dependent.

With the Birr 6,000 she received, she has bought her consumption, and also continued her petty trade.

The same is true for the family of Moges Mekonnen, a 44-year-old physically disable and father of two. He served as a federal police for 14 years. He was a bedridden for the last seven years due to car accident. “Because of the impact of COVID-19, it is hard to sustain life. I couldn’t follow my medical treatment properly,” Moges says. Even with his wife’s little income, he says there are days when they barely have anything to feed their children.

“This is a huge help for me, I am very grateful to Red Cross,” adds Moges, who bought beneficial food for his health.

The target beneficiaries are physically disable individuals, people who live with chronic diseases, and pregnant women whose mobility is highly limited from threats of the pandemic.

The Corona Virus Recovery Primary and Secondary Impacts Project Senior Officer, Sintayehu Tsegaye, said that the most vulnerable beneficiaries are carefully identified with the participation of local administration and community itself.

“We observe that many of our beneficiaries are concerned of what will happen in the future and they even decide to save. Some of them have started different livelihood activities to build their resilience,” says Sintayehu. “We recognize that cash is also essential at this time so they can purchase what they truly need.”

In response to this serious situation, in addition to Arbaminch, a total of 1,170 beneficiaries from Moyale, Wolaita-Sodo and Jimma cities received their cash assistance from the Red Cross.