Pastoralists and agro-pastoralist communities are particularly vulnerable to the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic with their nomadic lifestyle, their responsibility for their own and their livestock’s health, cross-border trading, and their exposure to zoonotic diseases, and they are facing severe hardship and uncertainty, and increasing marginalisation and inequality. Many have little or no savings and depend on daily earnings, which have vanished. Food distribution programmes aim to plug the gap, and NGOs are switching existing funding over to the crisis response. People are helping each other, as they always have done, but social safety nets are under severe strain.
PENHA also works with Horn diaspora communities in the UK. These groups are facing increasing isolation with the lockdown and many are dealing with unemployment and ill health, which has had a bearing on their wellbeing and sense of security. Many have been unable to send remittances back to their families in their countries of origin, which has led to more hardship in the region. Young people are particularly vulnerable due to social and physical isolation, with students carrying out their lectures online and often lacking psychological as well as financial support.
Therefore, to ensure PENHA role in supporting its communities it has developed a response strategy that assists its programme delivery and resource generation, PENHA is launching its response document to make a tangible positive impact during the pandemic period.
Photo: World Bank / Sambrian Mbaabu
