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In Geneva, one of the most expensive cities in the world, thousands of people queued to get free food rations at a time when the crisis of the Covid-19 epidemic caused by the new Corona virus showed poor people who normally did not they would appear in the city.
In this Swiss city, famous for its banks, luxury watchmaking and high-end boutiques, people started lining up at 5 a.m. on Saturday, according to the Caravan Solidarity Association, the main organizer of the initiative.
When the rations began to be distributed at a hockey stadium in Geneva four hours later, the line of people, most of whom had put on masks and masks and were two meters away, had reached a kilometer and a half of length.
Organizers said they believed the numbers were at least the same as those that arrived a week ago and totaled more than 2,000.
“We are on an upward path,” said Silvana Mastromatio, president of “Caravan Solidarity,” adding that the latest distribution is the sixth of its kind since the crisis began, as the number of people increases each time.
“We need food,” said Silvia Mango, 64, after waiting three hours in the sun.
“Everything has become more difficult since the crisis began,” he added. Conflict with a scarf wrapped around his mouth and nose, he admitted that it was his second food aid.
Immediately weakened
Switzerland imposed a series of emergency measures in mid-March, including the closure of restaurants and most commercial activities, to stop the spread of the epidemic that has so far killed more than 1,500 people and infected more than 30,000.
As the country gradually began lifting the restrictions, the two-month shutdown had dire consequences for unregistered workers and vulnerable groups at risk.
According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, about 8 percent of people, or 660,000 people, consider themselves poor, out of a million who live in precarious conditions.
“We know this group of people is there,” said Isabelle Wiedmer, who is responsible for coordinating the city of Geneva’s response to the crisis, which on Saturday supported the Food Aid Initiative.
“But it is surprising to see how the crisis immediately weakened this segment.” She spoke as volunteers packed bags of food behind tables with packages of disinfectants.
Covid Tests -19
About 1,500 bags were packed and packed with rice, pasta, coffee, breakfast cereals, and other staples. It was lined up on the walls of the grand entrance and filled an adjacent hallway.
And in one of the corners, spare quantities were placed.
And if the food runs out, coupons of 20 francs will be distributed, according to Patrick Wieland of the Association of Doctors Without Borders, involved in organizing Saturday’s initiative.
In addition to food products, the association provides virus screening tests for people who have symptoms, according to Wieland.
Mastromatio confirmed that there are no conditions to demonstrate the need for food assistance.
“It is not easy to stand in this class and ask for help,” he said, adding: “Everyone is here because they need it.”
A survey of 550 people who came to get help a week ago showed that half of them were not registered, but a third of them had a residence permit and about four percent of them were Swiss.
It also showed that 3.4 percent of respondents said tests for the virus that were performed on them were positive, according to Wieland, noting that the percentage was three times higher than the overall average recorded in Geneva.
He said that many of those who suffered the worst damage due to the crisis live in crowded neighborhoods, adding that sometimes ten people in a family live in a small apartment, making them more vulnerable to infection.
He said: “Poverty is in Geneva, but it is generally hidden and not seen.” “It is clear that with the emerging Coronavirus crisis, everything becomes more visible.”
