Washington DC: As per information from the Office of Tibet, Washington DC, following are the COVID-19 relief initiatives undertaken by the Tibetan Community of New York and New Jersey led by their task force committee. Read the original report filed in Tibetan here.
As New York has been worst affected by Wuhan-originated COVID-19 pandemic, a Task Force committee was immediately set up to combat the crisis. The task force committee has undertaken various measures from 30 March to 15 May, as follows:
On 30 March, in coordination with local Tibetan nurses association, the community provided symptomatic Tibetans with an emergency hotline for guidance from doctors and nurses. The hotline was published via Facebook.
As of 15 May, 250 people have reached out and 90 people with symptoms have been provided guidance on emergency hospital and medicines.
Tibetans positive with COVID-19 and nurses affected and quarantined received meals, fruits and water for 41 days from 5 April to 15 May. In this duration, about 500 meals in total were provided.
As a token of solidarity, about 1080 meals were provided for COVID-19-related emergency doctors, nurses, hospital staff in the locality. Read the details in Tibetan here.
In accordance with the directive of CTA and OOT, DC the Tibetan Community of New York and New Jersey and local Tibetan associations and Tibetan public contributed USD 11,793 in COVID-19 relief aid, as an expression of gratitude and solidarity with the US government and people.
For those requiring quarantine facility, accommodations were arranged with 50% of the rent provided by the Tibetan Community of NY & NJ.
Under mental health counselling initiatives, several therapy sessions were provided virtually on Facebook.
Another initiative of New York and New Jersey Tibetan associations has been to provide aid to those who have been laid off and unemployed due to the ongoing crisis. About 30-50 calls were received weekly registering for unemployment aid and more than a total of 300 people have received guidance and aid.
The Queens’ Office has received about 100 boxes in donations of food supplies and accordingly, distributed them to the public on 2 May.
Face masks and medical supplies were provided in necessities for emergency aid to the majority of COVID-19 affected Tibetans.
Currently, the COVID-19 situation is improving within the region and lately, there’s been no reported cases of Tibetans with COVID-19. The task force has thus ended its emergency initiatives on 15 May and announced the same on Facebook. In case, positive cases arise in the future among Tibetans within the locality, they were urged to continue to contact the committee for help.
-Filed in Tibetan by the Tibetan Community of NY & NJ via Office of Tibet, Washington DC