The Republic of Korea continues to provide food assistance to returning migrant workers in detention.

[ASEAN NOW]

 

The Republic of Korea's government has pledged to assist the Ministry of Health and the World Food Programme (WFP) in continuing to provide food to returning migrants who are subject to the required Covid-19 quarantine.

 

The Republic of Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allocated USD 200,000 in humanitarian aid to the Lao People's Democratic Republic's reaction to Covid-19. WFP will be able to continue providing food assistance to migrant workers in 18 quarantine centers throughout seven provinces in Laos thanks to this donation.

 

Over 5,600 returning migrant workers will receive three daily healthy meals from WFP and its implementing partners, the Swiss Red Cross, the Lao Red Cross, and World Vision International.

 

“Although the number of returning migrant workers has been slowly decreasing since the middle of August, the high number of COVID-19 cases in the countries surrounding Lao PDR remains a threat, while we work hard to contain the spread within the country,” says the statement. Our quarantine centers have proven to be critical in keeping us all safe while allowing all of our folks to return home. Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, Minister of Health, remarked, "We are grateful to the Korean government for this essential support."

 

In June 2020, the World Food Programme (WFP) began providing food aid in Covid-19 quarantine centers. Since early September, the charity has been feeding around 1,800 individuals each day in primary, long-term quarantine centers.

 

The provision of daily meals to returning migrant workers in these places helps returnees finish their quarantine periods without having to worry about finding alternate food sources. The assistance also aids in the maintenance of their health and well-being, as well as decreasing the financial strain on them and their families.

 

“The assistance is a follow-up to the Foreign Ministers' Meeting between the Republic of Korea and the Lao People's Democratic Republic a month ago in the midst of the pandemic, as well as the third round of the Republic of Korea's humanitarian assistance to the Lao People's Democratic Republic since the pandemic began last year, demonstrating both countries' willingness to overcome this hardship together. I really hope that this assistance would assist us in getting through these difficult times,” said Moohong Im, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

 

The Korean government has been working closely with the Laotian government to improve Laos' Covid-19 testing capacity, including walk-through booths, test kits, and other medical equipment. It has also worked with WFP on a local and global level, including a recent donation of 1,320 metric tons of rice to the Lao government in June 2021 for emergency food supplies in disasters.

 

“It's fantastic that more and more donors are realizing how critical it is to keep quarantine centers open. While national authorities do their best to keep the country safe, the World Food Programme sees it as our honorable duty to continue supporting quarantine provisions through generous donations and excellent implementation partners. We've given over 1.8 million meals to over 70,000 people since June 2020. We are getting closer to leaving this pandemic behind by isolating in humane settings everyone who is carrying the virus into the country,” stated WFP Country Director and Representative Jan Delbaere.