Switzerland supports WFP in helping social inpatient institutions in Kyrgyzstan to cope with COVID-19 hardships

Local news, 23.04.2020

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the Kyrgyz Republic welcomes a contribution of CHF 200,000 (USD 196,500) from Switzerland that will help fund WFP’s emergency food assistance to 22 social inpatient institutions and boarding schools across the country.  

Humanitarian aid for vulnerable population of Kyrgyzstan © WFP, 2020

WFP will use the funds to meet the immediate food needs and support the livelihoods of 3,100 residents of the country’s current social inpatient institutions and boarding schools for three months in the peak of COVID-19 outbreak. Residents of the social institutions – orphans, elderly and people with disabilities are the most severely affected by the current crisis. Emergency food assistance will be provided through WFP’s long-term partnership framework with Ministry of Labour and Social Development and Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic.

WFP supports the Kyrgyz Government’s efforts to achieve the overall priority of Food Security for all, with specific focus on the vulnerable population. This contribution from the Government of Switzerland is critical to make sure that amidst the severe impact of the crisis no one is left behind, including the most disadvantaged people who lives in closed institutions.

Thanks to the Swiss contribution, WFP will provide each social inpatient institution and boarding school with a 3-month food ration of 75 kg of fortified wheat flour and 8 litres of vitamin-rich oil per person. Such assistance will ensure their access to balanced and nutritious meals, while giving them the possibility of prioritizing some of the available economic resources and use them for addressing other pressing needs such as health, sanitary and hygiene, protection.

As safety, protection, and dignity of the residents in the social institutions are of pivotal importance, WFP will ensure all precautionary measures during food delivery and handling.

“We would like to thank WFP, our long-standing partner for improving the livelihoods of the country’s poorest populations, and the Government of Switzerland for their commitment to support the people of Kyrgyzstan. At this time of crisis, every effort counts to ensure tailored social support to the most vulnerable people,” said Minister of Labour and Social Development, Ulugbek Kochkorov.

WFP, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, is the United Nations (UN) agency leading the critical sectors of food security and logistics. In this role, WFP is also supporting emergency food distributions to the most vulnerable people across the country to cover their immediate food needs during the crisis.

Local news, 16.07.2020

On July 15, 2020, the Government of Switzerland in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Kyrgyzstan transferred personal protective equipment to the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Delivery of personal protective equipment to medics © UNFPA, 2020

This support in the amount of 15 million som has been provided to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in response to COVID-19. In coordination with the Ministry of Health all personal protective equipment will be allocated for equipping medical mobile teams in Chui, Naryn and Osh regions of Kyrgyzstan.

The humanitarian aid consists of the following:

• Nitrile Examine Gloves – 100 boxes;
• Isolation Gowns – 3800;
• Coveralls – 3800;
• FFP2 Face Masks – 3700;
• Surgical Masks – 5000;
• Goggles – 3800;
• Face Shields – 3800.

Having access to quality personal protective equipment and knowing how to use it correctly, healthcare workers will be protected to continue providing essential services and not be at risk for their peers, patients, families or communities thereby decreasing human-to-human transmission. 

The Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic and UNFPA encourage citizens to follow all sanitary precautionary measures to help health facilities to reduce the burden.