Alexandria, 27 Aug 2020 – In response to the novel coronavirus COVID-19, IOM Egypt continues to distribute food baskets to vulnerable migrants in Alexandria. This distribution provided 185 food baskets to the Yemeni community, bringing the total of food baskets distributed to 1421, with another distribution planned next week to distribute food baskets to the Sudanese community in Alexandria which will bring the total to 1621.

The series of the “We Care” initiative distributions began the first week of April, targeting different migrant communities Alexandria. Distributions have already taken place for the Sudanese, South Sudanese, Syrians, Filipinos and Yemeni communities.

Previously, IOM Egypt provided 300 basic care packages which consisted of food and NFIs (non-food items) which were distributed in Alexandria and the North Coast through Caritas Alexandria, who also collaborated to deliver basic necessities to migrant communities in order to avoid the accumulation of crowds.

The distributions are funded by the Government of Denmark, which continues to support migrants, and host communities in Egypt; at the same time, IOM Egypt is committed to supporting migrants during this pandemic, who are hardest hit due to loss of income, discrimination and stigma.

This initiative is part of IOM’s COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan developed to protect the most vulnerable migrants and also in line with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Goal 1: ‘No poverty’ and Goal 10: ‘Reduced inequalities.’ It is also in line with the objectives of Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS): Vision 2030, particularly its Social Justice Pillar.

For further information, please contact Omar Awwad at IOM Egypt, Tel: +20 1032 049 144 Email: oawwad@iom.int