28.03.2020
Last Saturday, 226 emergency aid packages were distributed to the most vulnerable RE families living in five settlements in Nikšić inhabited by Roma and Egyptians, the most vulnerable category of population. This aid, in response to the crisis caused by the effects of the coronavirus epidemic, has been distributed to over 2000 people in settlements: Željezara, Gračanica, Gvozdence, Humci i Zverinjak.
Alongside activists from Help, the aid packages were also distributed by the colleagues from the partner NGO “Walk with us Phiren Amenca”, in coordination with the representatives of the Red Cross, while the operation was funded by the European Union.
“All of us enjoyed this action today, and the fatigue feels good. It’s good for the psyche in these moments too, especially when we realize that we have all contributed to the fact that more than 2000 people will not worry about food for a while. It’s good when you act in the interest of a good and better cause..”This has been the motto of Help for years,” colleague Dženan Demić said, after the action ended that night. He has been working hard on all the necessary details in the last few days to ensure the delivery of aid to the most vulnerable of all categories in Montenegro, the RE population, as soon as possible.
“It was a pleasure to be a part of this action, together with our colleagues from the Roma youth organization ‘Walk with us Phiren Amenca’, in order to help people in such difficult situation,” said our young activist Dijamant Pajazitaj. He added that: “As long as there are young people who willing to work, everything will go well “, which was an encouraging thought.
Alongside Dženan and Dijamant, other activists from Help participated in the action in Nikšić: Denisona, Milivoje, Ibrahim and Lazar, as well as young activists from “Phiren Amenca”.
Regional Coordinator of Help, Klaus Mock, has been invited to be a guest on Saturday’s RTCG program, “Good Morning Montenegro”, where he outlined our efforts as part of a broader action, “within which a total of 600 aid packages were distributed to about 400 families of Roma and Egyptian population in Herceg-Novi, Berane and Bijelo Polje. The total value of these 600 packages was about 12,400 euros. ”
As he emphasized in the interview for RTCG, “this would not have been possible without the European Union, which played a key role by quickly authorizing us to divert the funds intended for other activities in our current project for the RE population, towards distributing emergency humanitarian aid in response to the crisis caused by the coronovirus epidemic.”
“We knew immediately that we needed to respond quickly in this emergency situation, together with our partners from Phiren Amenca, because this crisis has a terrible impact on the Roma and Egyptians which is the most vulnerable population in Montenegro. The EU immediately approved our request, and we are very grateful to them. I believe that in this way we will help the RE families by making it easier for them to deal with a difficult situation in which they find themselves now.” Mock said.
More than 300 packages of aid were distributed to the RE families which needed help in Berane and Bijelo Polje yesterday (last Friday). The first aid packages were distributed on Tuesday 24 March in the Roma settlement of Drenovik in Herceg-Novi with the assistance of the Red Cross.
Families which have more than six members have each received two packages containing flour, oil, sugar, pasta, rice and soap.
In accordance with the recommendations of the National Coordination Body, we have conducted the distribution in coordination with our Red Cross counterparts, to whom we are also grateful for their cooperation and tireless assistance during the week, despite all the obligations and pressure they are exposed to because of the current situation.
In Berane and Bijelo Polje, yesterday, more than 300 packages were distributed to RE families in need. The first aid packages were distributed on Tuesday 24 March in the Roma settlement of Drenovik in Herceg-Novi with the assistance of the Red Cross.
Families with more than six members each received two packages containing flour, oil, sugar, pasta, rice and soap.
In accordance with the recommendations of the National Coordination Body, we distributed the aid in coordination with our Red Cross counterparts, and we use this opportunity as well to thanked Red Cross once again for their cooperation and tireless assistance during the week, despite all the obligations and pressure to which they are exposed because of the coronavirus crises.
