1m meals for excluded women & children in Covid-19

While COVID-19 has been tough on everyone, it has been particularly disastrous for victims of sex trafficking and their children, many of whom were already barely making ends meet. More than 85 % report that they only have a few days of food/money on hand and that their housing is at risk. A preliminary assessment by several UN agencies indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic could contribute between 83 and 132 million people to the total number of trafficked humans.

 The beneficiaries we serve face various marginalizations due to their caste, gender, occupation, and geographical location. Many of them also face intersecting discriminations, falling into more than one government list of caste and community.

Apne Aap has distributed 12,439,674 meals among more than half a million vulnerable women and girls in 8 states of India between March 2020 and November 15th,  2021. The initial goal was 1 million meals for 10,000 victims of sex-trafficking and their children within 100 days. The program has exceeded this target 12 times over and is continuing to provide relief to the most vulnerable.

The food is in the form of dry ration kits with each kit having enough food for 100 meals. In addition, we put in soap, sanitizers, masks, and essential medicines like paracetamol and vitamins, as well as a quarter of a million sanitary pads. In addition, we provided 200 kits of school supplies including computers, laptops, and internet facilities that benefit the children that are victims of sex trafficking and the children of the women who are victims of sex trafficking.