Numerous Covid-19 emergency relief donations have already enabled Usthi to distribute food in India. In the last few days, food and protective material could also be provided to the first families in Nepal.

Thanks to the great solidarity of Usthi donors, Usthi is also able to provide Covid-19 emergency aid in Nepal. Together with a local organisation, Usthi is in charge of a new educational project in the country. The families of the supported school children and other people in need are currently receiving urgently needed help provided by Usthi’s partner organisation.

After the sharp rise in the number of infections, Nepal imposed a strict lockdown in the region. Even some of the bigger supermarkets had to remain closed. In the Usthi project region of Dhading, many families live within very precarious conditions. Many people in the villages have lost their income due to the strict lockdown. In this emergency situation, Usthi supports the families with food packages and protective material.

The first packages have already been distributed in the last few days. More will be distributed within the upcoming days. Usthi would like to thank all donors for their great solidarity. Without you, Usthi’s work would be unthinkable.

The second wave of Covid-19 hit India and Nepal hard. Now, fortunately, the number of cases has been falling for several weeks and the situation has improved slightly. First regions have decided to ease the measures. This also applies to the Usthi project site Hyderabad.

Developments in India and Nepal are beginning to look a little more encouraging. The number of infections has been falling for several weeks. Whether the worst is over is hard to say. Individual regions, such as Puri, where Usthi runs the Penthakata School, are still severely affected. The greater spread in rural areas without medical infrastructure also raises fears of high numbers of unreported cases.

For the moment, however, a little normality is returning to some parts of India. In several Indian states and also in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, the lockdown was extended once again. In the Usthi project location Hyderabad, the lockdown was lifted on 10th June. This also allowed some project activities to be carried out.

After several inhabitants of the Usthi women’s shelters were able to complete their vocational training before the lockdown in April 2021, they were able to leave the Usthi project. Since the 12th of June, 29 young women could be newly accommodated in the project. On 14th of June, the professional skills training could be reopened under protective measures and new students could be welcomed.

On 14th June, the children and young people supported by Usthi in Hyderabad started the new school year. All classes are currently being taught online and at a distance again. The tutoring centres were also able to reopen and offer support in small groups and by phone.

Thanks to generous donations from private donors and institutions, Usthi has already been able to provide much-needed aid and provide people with food packages in Hyderabad. Based on the current funding status, the operation is being extended to other locations.

When Usthi decided to provide Covid-19 emergency relief again at the end of April, the target of CHF 53,000 seemed high. By mid-May we had already reached our target and decided to increase it. Donations for the emergency relief are still coming in. We are overwhelmed by this great solidarity and thank all Usthi donors for their commitment.

While the distribution of food in Hyderabad could already take place in several drives, the planned vaccination drive proved to be difficult to implement. Since access to vaccine is difficult, only a few people from the surroundings of the Usthi projects could be vaccinated so far. The local partner organisation is now focusing on long-term support for people in need. For example, independently of Usthi, it plans to take in children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19.

In order to provide urgently needed aid as soon as possible with the remaining emergency relief funds, Usthi has decided to carry out food distribution at additional locations. Together with the local partner organisation, the distribution of food to 450 families from the Penthakata School area and 270 families from the Ananda School area is planned for the next few days. Besides food, the packages will also contain soap and masks. The distribution may take place on the school premises, but will be staggered according to school classes so that not everyone picks up their packages at the same time.

Besides India, Nepal was also hit hard by the sudden increase in Covid infections last month. Therefore, Usthi is now also providing emergency aid in the project region of the new education project in Nepal. Packages containing rice and lentils, but also soap and masks, are being distributed. The families of the school children supported by Usthi and other persons and families in need will be considered. The packages are distributed by the employees of our local partner organisation and volunteers.

We are impressed by the generosity of our donors and the flexibility of our local partners and staff who make this much needed help possible. Thank you very much!

The official Corona case numbers in India are declining. But it is too early to breathe a sigh of relief. Lockdowns have been extended at all project sites in India. A strict lockdown has also been in place in the Kathmandu Valley since the end of April. First relaxations are planned for this week.

Corona infections in India are decreasing day by day. Nevertheless, thousands are still falling ill every day and fighting for survival. The vaccination campaign is still progressing slowly. Therefore, a renewed increase in numbers cannot be ruled out. The situation in Nepal also remains tense.

In a large part of the Indian states, curfews have been tightened. The relaxation of the measures depends not only on the infection figures but also on how many risk patients have already been vaccinated. In the three states of Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal, where Usthi is responsible for projects, the lockdowns have been extended. A very strict lockdown was also imposed in the Usthi project region in Nepal at the end of April – even supermarkets had to close. This week, this measure is to be relaxed a bit.

Last week, Usthi feared that Cyclone Yaas, which hit the east coast, could also affect the Usthi projects. Fortunately, this did not happen. Nevertheless, the storm destroyed countless houses and many people had to flee. In Penthakata, some families were able to take shelter on the grounds of the Usthi school. Only a week earlier, Cyclone Tauktae hit the west coast of the country. Natural disasters like this further complicate the fight against Corona.

The current situation will continue to have a strong impact on Usthi projects in the current project year. Despite declining numbers, Usthi considers a resumption of classroom teaching in the Usthi projects to be out of the question in the near future. In Telangana and thus Hyderabad, the summer holidays have been extended until mid-July. After the holidays, the children and youths at all school locations will have to resume classes at a distance.

Fortunately, the Usthi children have adjusted well to the new situation. Several children from the Usthi children’s homes graduated from high school this spring – again with top grades. Usthi is happy to have enabled these children to build a perspective for themselves and is proud of their good achievements.