Protecting the Vulnerable During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Part 2 of 2

Today, we will continue to examine other vulnerable groups at an elevated risk of exposure to COVID-19. Homeless people and those whose living conditions fall below basic standards, like informal settlements, are more susceptible to infections, while refugees and internally displaced people are probably the most at-risk. Fortunately, there are international agencies that provide services to these groups to help better minimize their possible exposure to COVID-19. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has scaled up projects to keep refugees and internally displaced people safe by providing life-saving support including clean water, medical care and personal protective equipment like masks. “You can see here there is a handwashing device which is not the usual one. We developed this one considering the response to COVID-19 so that there is less contact of hands with handwashing devices in the communal places.” Countries are also reaching out to support various humanitarian aid organizations. The government of Switzerland has donated US$1.8 million to the United Nations World Food Programme for food supplies for the Sahrawi refugees living in five camps near the Algerian town of Tindouf. About 20 young volunteers in Bolivia are participating in the “Adopt a Grandparent” campaign to help isolated seniors obtain vital resources. A joint report released in 2020, by the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Livestock Research Institute states, “About 60 percent of human infections are estimated to have an animal origin.” Furthermore, it explains, “While wildlife are the most common source of emerging human disease, domesticated animals may be original sources, transmission pathways, or amplifiers of zoonotic disease.” Our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai has emphasized for many years that humans can stop zoonotic diseases by being vegan.