Anti-Poverty Network distributed 500 hygiene kits to Roma communities

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The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Portugal distributed in nine counties 500 hygiene kits raised under the SOS Roma communities campaign, which aims to support families in need in combating the covid- 19
According to EAPN Portugal, the kits, made up of masks, gloves, alcohol, soap, disinfectant wipes and bleach, were delivered in the municipalities of Elvas, Beja, Mourão, Guarda, Fundão, Viseu, Braga, Barcelos and Porto,

During the campaign, launched on 9 April, according to the organisation, “500 kits' were purchased, 126 families were covered and 9,500 Euros were raised”.

The action will continue until 31 May, and EAPN Portugal plans to deliver next week “hygiene kits” to the entire population of Bairro das Pedreiras, in Beja, which has 800 people, about 150 families”.

The organization ensures that the needs assessment is being carried out by its district centres and recalls that “some Roma communities lack not only food and hygiene materials, but also information and, therefore, the kits are accompanied by a information leaflet about covid-19.

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In a statement, the president of EAPN Portugal recalls that “families who live in camps and tents, without access to water, electricity and decent housing, are the ones that most need protection from the pandemic”.

“These are families that only have, as a means of subsistence, the income from the fairs and street sales and struggle with, in addition to the health problems, the suspension of their activities for an indefinite period”, says Jardim Moreira.

On Friday, 1 May, the campaign will be relaunched in the media and social networks, with the support of singer Salvador Sobral, winner of the Eurovision festival in 2017.

According to the most recent figures, released in 2014, there are 24,210 Portuguese Roma in Portugal.