‘I don’t know what coronavirus is,’ says Saqlain*, ‘or how long it will last, but I know my pockets are empty and I have a family to feed.’
Before the coronavirus lockdown, Saqlain used to work at a brick kiln in eastern Pakistan. But he hasn’t earned a single rupee in more than two weeks. It means he can’t buy food for his wife and three children.
In Pakistan, many people receive their wages on a daily basis. It’s what they use to provide for their families. Thankfully, Saqlain has been helped by Tearfund and a partner organisation who are providing food parcels for families who are vulnerable.
‘I would not have been able to provide for my family, so this means a lot,’ Saqlain told us.
Essential supplies
Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, Tearfund’s team in Pakistan has been working closely with our partner organisations. We’re helping them to spread messages about the importance of good hygiene and sanitation, as well as providing food and other essential supplies to people who need them.
So far we’ve distributed six tonnes of flour, 800kg of sugar, one tonne of rice, 894 bars of soap along with other food and hygiene products. We’ve reached nearly 4,000 people since the start of our response.
