KUWAIT, Mar 29 (NNN-KUNA) – COVID-19 is affecting every aspect of life in Kuwait, and some hard choices have emerged.
Many workers in blacksmith, plumbing, construction, transportation and other fields suffer from almost complete cessation of work, due to full closures in Kuwait, especially since the beginning of the partial curfew and the suspension of public transport and taxis.
Ali Khalaf, a 40-year-old Egyptian father of two children, has been out of work since the Kuwaiti government announced the closure of the Friday market, two weeks ago, due to the virus spread.
After the market’s closure, it was hard for him to pay his rent and provide decent meals for his family, Khalaf said.
“My earnings were good enough to meet the needs of my family, but now I no longer have that privilege,” he complained.
Barbershops, beauty salons, gyms, health clubs, commercial malls, restaurants and more were closed by the government, based on the health ministry’s recommendations to reduce the risk posed by mass gatherings that may spread the virus.
Some of them may face serious issues if this pandemic lasts longer.
Maysoon Shraf, a Lebanese hairdresser, is one of the unfortunate people who lost their jobs as a result of the current situation.
Shraf was informed that due to the closure, her employer will not be able to pay her salary next month.
A similar situation happened to Tunisian coach, Nisreen Madi, who lost her temporary job at the gym.
This circumstance made more than 41 charities in Kuwait to launch fundraising campaign on Saturday, to support families in need and workers who were affected by the pandemic.
“This campaign is our social responsibility that aims at preserving social security in Kuwait,” Abdel Rahman Al-Shatti, the campaign member, said.
“We seek through this to provide food baskets for needy families, in addition to support the affected workers who work with daily wages.”
According to Al-Shatti, the campaign also aims to support the efforts of the government, especially in the humanitarian aspect, by providing water and meals to working staff and people in quarantine.
The distribution of aid will take place during the next few days in coordination with several ministries, he noted.
The fundraising reached more than four million Kuwaiti dinars (12.77 million U.S. dollars) by 4:00 p.m. Saturday, where more than 90,000 people donated from inside and outside Kuwait, he added.
“Kuwait will always help the people in need,” Abu Ali, a 64-year-old Kuwaiti citizen, said.
“Kuwait is a humanitarian country. What we are facing today is a test in order to help others,” he stressed.
Tareq Al-Mezrem, the Kuwaiti government spokesman, announced on Mar 24, the start of a fund to receive contributions from institutions, companies and individuals, to support the government’s efforts in containing the virus.
The Kuwaiti authorities have made more strict decisions to contain the virus, where Kuwaiti municipality decided to ban visits to all cemeteries, and burials should be attended only by relatives of the deceased.
Kuwait reported 10 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 235, the Health Ministry announced in a statement on Saturday.– NNN-KUNA
