Coronavirus: more and more people in Switzerland are using food aid

People line up to receive bags of food and essentials from donations at the Vernets ice rink in Geneva during the coronavirus epidemic on May 9, 2020. REUTERS / Denis Balibouse

Text by: Jérémie Lanche

A line more than a kilometer long for food aid in one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, if not the world. The image is surprising. However, this is one of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. In Geneva, Switzerland, more than 2,000 people waited hours on Saturday to receive some pasta, oil and some canned food. Reportage.

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From our correspondent in Geneva,

“  Normally we never ask for help, but given the situation we can also come since we are in need.  With two dependent children and a third on the way, Mamanana did not hesitate long before coming to pick up a package. Like almost everyone here, the young woman from Guinea Conakry has not had a job since the start of the crisis.

In fact, these are people who work, not people who live on the hooks of society," explains Patrick Wieland distribution coordinator for MSF Switzerland. These people have jobs, but are undocumented. As soon as the virus hits, they lose their jobs, they can no longer pay their rent, they can no longer pay all their expenses, and they find themselves overnight without resources.  "

Poverty in Switzerland affects almost 8% of the population. A population that does not always have health coverage. Dr. Yves Jackson, from Geneva university hospitals, goes up the line to propose to be tested against Covid-19:

This is the first time that symptomatic people have been allowed access to free testing because these people are quite reluctant to get tested, mainly for financial reasons, so it was important to remove this barrier. "

Few people will ultimately be tested. Most did not come for that, but to recover enough to last a few more days. Because even if the economy officially starts again on Monday, many know that they will still have to come to the next distributions.

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  • Coronavirus
  • Swiss
  • Poverty
  • Society

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