VOLUNTEER task forces are being formed among expatriate communities to help support migrants affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, writes the GDN's Raji Unnikrishnan.

The Bangladesh Embassy is working on distributing more than 3,000 boxes containing food and essentials to its people who have lost their jobs or wages during this time.

Its labour consul Shaikh Tahidul Islam told the GDN that volunteer groups are being formed in different areas across Bahrain to distribute the boxes throughout this month.

“We are well prepared with resources and will not allow any Bangladeshi to starve,” he said.

“We have so far distributed food items to around 150 people.

“We will receive another 100 bags and we are planning to support around 2,000 people in the next 30 days.”

There are around 200,000 Bangladeshi nationals in Bahrain, with the initiative being backed by the Bangladeshi government and the community.

“We have received an allotment from our government and alongside this we will create a fund with the help of the community,” added Mr Tahidul.

The boxes contain 5kg of rice, 2kg of potato, 1kg each of lentil, sugar and onion, along with one litre of oil, salt, a packet of paracetamol, teabags, soap and hand wash. Face masks will also be added.

Meanwhile, the Bahrain Keraleeeya Samajam (BKS) is spearheading an initiative amongst expatriate workers from Kerala, the largest number of Indians working in Bahrain.

It is extending its food distribution project through volunteers operating under a task force, said BKS president P V Radhakrishna Pillai.

It is the largest expatriate club in the country, with up to 6,000 members, and is mobilising 1,000 boxes of dry ration and other basic amenities to be distributed to labourers who have not been paid as a result of the pandemic.

“We will be heading the initiative of the task force, which was proposed by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan during his discussion with expat community leaders in the GCC last week,” said Mr Pillai

“This is to help people here as well as it will be a reassurance to their families back home that they are not left alone at such a time.

“The task force of volunteers will consist of representatives of social organisations and we will also form a data bank of people stranded in various areas and those who need help.

“Other than food there are a number of other issues where people need help with, like regarding passport and visa in liaison with the respective embassies.”

The GDN reported last week that the campaign was supported by Capital Governor Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, who has been liaising with businesses to support the venture.

Bahrain is home to 498,000 foreign workers, of which almost half are estimated to be from India. This excludes domestic workers.

l Filipino workers in Bahrain hit by Covid-19 can apply for one-time financial aid as part of an initiative launched by the Department of Labour and Employment Department.

Guidelines on the provision of financial assistance to displaced Filipino workers and sailors have been announced on the Philippine Embassy’s official Instagram account.

“Bahrain has been identified as one of the 10 countries in the Middle East and North Africa where our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) will be given this one-time financial assistance subject to evaluation and verification by Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) Bahrain of the qualification of prospective claimant OFWs,” said the embassy.

Full details of the eligibility and application process for the BD75 financial assistance can be found on @phlinbahrain.