The COVID-19 global pandemic (also known commonly as Coronavirus) has had a major impact on both the health of local populations their economies as a result of strict quarantine measures designed to slow the spread of the virus. While those of us lucky enough to live in wealthy Western countries have had to deal with unprecedented levels of panic and uncertainty, these issues are obviously much worse in countries where issues like poverty are already a widespread issue.

In these countries, people have little-to-no safety net to protect them and no way to guarantee basic living essentials, especially if they have lost a means of generating income due to the pandemic. For people already in poverty or on the borderline, the impact of COVID-19 is disastrous.

This is why volunteer missions like Coronoastreet’s Safe Nation are so welcome and necessary in this time of crisis.

Recently, Safe Nation has teamed up to start a mission focused on delivering support to Asia and is partnering in Bangladesh to help rescue over 18,000 people from hunger and starvation amidst the Coronavirus epidemic.

With the help of donations (over $11,000 has been raised so far) and a team of passionate volunteers, Safe Nation is providing food banks to the people of Bangladesh which include:

• 5 kilograms of rice
• 2 kilograms of yellow lentils
• 1 kilogram of potatoes
• 1 kilogram of onions
• 1 litre of cooking oil
• 1 bar of soap
• 4 oral saline solutions
• 3ply face masks for each family

This food bank of basic essentials ensures that a family in Bangladesh can survive for at least 10 days with nutritious food and protection from dehydration. The inclusion of masks also means that family members can leave the home to work or run essential errands while minimising the risk of contracting and spreading Coronavirus.

In many countries like Bangladesh, the economic impact of COVID-19 can be just as, if not more deadly than the virus itself. When poverty and starvation are already commonplace issues, even the slightest bit of added pressure can mean thousands of innocent lives are lost.

This is why Coronastreet has urged people to continue donating to the Safe Nation project so that the world’s most vulnerable families do not needlessly suffer. The project is not only helping Bangladesh, but is delivering masks and food banks to 26 countries around the world who have poverty-stricken populations that are most in need of help.

Safe Nation shows us that when each of us shows a little bit of generosity, the positive impact can be incredible in the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people. Even just a small donation can potentially mean the difference between life and death for many people, and this is why Coronastreet’s Safe Nation project is so worthwhile and necessary.

With projects like Safe Nation bringing hope and much needed relief to impoverished families during this time of crisis, it demonstrates that, despite our differences, we are all human and can all stand in solidarity together against an existential threat.