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The world's poorest populations are disproportionately at risk of contracting COVID-19, as overcrowded living conditions and lack of basic sanitation make things like social distancing and frequent handwashing extremely difficult.
But as well as being more at risk of catching the disease, the poorest populations in the world are also more likely to be affected by the negative economic impacts of the lockdown and subsequent global recession. The UN estimates that nearly half of all jobs across Africa may be lost during this pandemic, and that 265 million people around the world will face starvation as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Oxfam predicts that COVID-19 could push over half a billion more people into poverty. I am fundraising for the Oxfam Coronavirus Emergency Response Appeal, to help protect the world's poorest and most vulnerable populations from the effects of coronavirus.
To fundraise, I am making cloth face masks from African wax print fabric (from Ghana). I am donating a number of masks for free to local food delivery charities in Glasgow (who support older and vulnerable people who are shielding during COVID-19), but also offering masks to friends and family in return for a donation to this fundraiser. More fundraising activities may come over the next few weeks and months.
I know this is a difficult time for all of us, but please consider donating what you can to this cause and help the world's most vulnerable populations through this crisis. Just £5 can provide clean, safe water for a family for a month, so they are able to practice good hygiene measures and protect themselves against COVID-19.
Thank you!
Sources:
https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/coronavirus-push-billion-people-poverty-oxfam-200408192048642.html
https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/half-billion-people-could-be-pushed-poverty-coronavirus-warns-oxfam
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