By Michael Anyeko Enyakoit | Executive Director
APPCO interventions on COVID-19 Response:
Humanitarian intervention is core to our mandate, so we are deep into the coronavirus prevention-intervention in the areas we work. APPCO is here to augment the work that the government does.
And even with all the challenges and risks, the government gave us movement permits so essential staff can access refugee settlements. While it’s our mandate to do this as humanitarian workers, we can’t disregard that we are exposing ourselves and need to mitigate the risk. We have personal protective equipment supplies and a counsellor to support staff. We are looking for every means possible to give our staff the means to fulfill the organization’s humanitarian mandate, but also feel safe.
APPCO is directly involved in risk-information and educational campaigns. People may not have a TV or electricity where they live, so we have a duty to inform the public on dangers of the coronavirus, using the appropriate media. For example, we are printing posters in various local languages to inform people on health practices and tips.
Women and girls as most vulnerable during this pandemic
We know that women and girls suffer the most in crises and are very vulnerable to gender-based violence. The socio-cultural realities and the resulting power dynamics place women and girls in a position of subservience. In normal times, we address the underlying causes of this power imbalance and have been successful at that. But given the COVID-19 situation, we continue to provide support on the phone, and through staff who are working in the refugee settlements. There are some cases of gender-based violence, intimate partner violence that are urgent, they can’t wait. We should be there in person, but the truth is that won’t always be possible.
Similarly, girls are at an increased risk of child marriage because families who lose their incomes are often more likely to marry their daughters to alleviate financial challenges. Since schools are vital safe spaces that protect girls and give them access to help and advice through their teachers, the closure of schools and girls traveling back to their villages reverses gains made in girls' education and empowerment. It is therefore key that we act to reduce the long-term consequences of the pandemic beyond the period of school closures.
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