Volunteers prepare food kits for jobless, stranded Indians in Dubai. Kamal Kassim/ Gulf Today

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

As the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic continues to affect an increasing number of people, it is also inspiring all segments of the UAE society to support the most vulnerable to the social and economic repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic that brought nations around the world to a standstill.

Various community groups have come forward to help the people affected by the pandemic while financial and in-kind donations continue to pour into the campaign from philanthropists in the society.

One such campaign is organised by Dubai-based NRIs from Thrissur District of Kerala. The group has been running the food donation drive under the banner of INCAS’ Thrissur District Unit.

NP Ramachandran, vice-president of INCAS UAE and patron of the INCAS’ Thrissur District Unit, said that ever since the lockdown started, this group started distributing food kits to people who lost jobs as well as to those stranded Indians who were on the visit visa and had limited resources and were not able to return to India.

  “These kinds of humanitarian campaigns implement the commitment to preserve the human dignity, safeguard lives and provide all basic life necessities to the vulnerable irrespective of religion, colour or race. The social campaigns reinforce the deeply-rooted values of tolerance, giving and coexistence.

  Initially, the group provided ready-to-eat food packets, but the demand grew soon and they started delivering food kits with 17 items including rice, flour, oil, vegetable and other items of their need. On an average, they distribute such food kits to 40-50 families every day.

B Pavithran, president of the INCAS’ Thrissur District Unit, said that a dedicated help desk has been set up for the needy who can contact the group through the website www.incasuae.com or by mail info@incasuae.com.

“We started distributing food packets to people in the Naif area of Dubai. But we had to extend the network as we started getting calls from DIP, Jebel Ali in Dubai. We are also getting call from people in the neighbouring emirates Sharjah and Ajman as well,” he said.

  He said that the campaign will continue throughout the holy month of Ramadan and beyond as the impact of Coronavirus outbreak that led many to unemployment and major income reductions will take time to go away.