COVID-19 knows no borders – #SaferTogether
by Agency MYOP and the European Commission
Five photographers travelled to five different countries to document the lives of the people most affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.
Guillaume Binet visited Haiti, Pascal Maitre went to Lebanon, Agnès Dherbeys travelled to Ecuador and shed a light on Venezuelan and Colombian migrants and refugees, Stephane Lagoutte reported from Uganda and Oliver Laban-Mattei travelled to Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh.
About the project
In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought chaos to the world. Europe quickly became the most affected continent. Day after day, national dead counts became the headline news. More than a year after the start of the pandemic, the findings are indisputable: people who were already in precarious situations before the pandemic got hit the hardest by the economic and social consequences of the crisis that followed.
This is true in Italy, France or Germany. It is also true in Uganda, Lebanon, Haiti or Bangladesh.
As the European Commission stated in 2020, “the coronavirus outbreak has evolved into a global pandemic. It has killed tens of thousands of people, straining communities, increasing calls for social protection, shrinking business activity and disrupting supply chains. Its consequences will be profound.”
Between November 2020 and February 2021 and with the support of the European Commission in the frame of the #SaferTogether campaign, five renowned photographers from Agence MYOP travelled to five developing countries, to document the lives of the most vulnerable people around the world.
Audio Description of the project:
#Safertogether in Haiti
by Guillaume Binet
Anti-Covid-Botschaften. Haiti. November 2020. Grenze zur Dominikanischen Republik // Anti-covid messages. Haiti. November 2020. Border with the Dominican Republic
Stadt Manquette, in der Nähe von Ouanaminthe. Das tägliche Leben. // Town of Manquette, Near Ouanaminthe. Daily life.
Im Haus von Daphne. Sie musste aus der Dominikanischen Republik zurückkehren, nachdem das Geschäft, das sie besaß, bankrott gegangen war. // Inside the home of Daphne. She had to return from the Dominican Republic after the shop she owned went bankrupt.
Ouanaminthe. Grenze zwischen Haiti und der Dominikanischen Republik. Die Inflation des haitianischen Gourde (Landeswährung) veranlasst viele Haitianer, die Grenze zu überqueren, um sich in der Dominikanischen Republik zu versorgen. // Ouanaminthe. Border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The inflation of the Haitian gourde (national currency) makes many Haitians cross the border to get supplies in the Dominican Republic.
Cap Haitian. Straßenszene. // Cap Haitian. Street scene.
Labadee ist ein Hafen an der Nordküste von Haiti. Aufgrund von Covid-19 wurde die Tätigkeit fast vollständig eingestellt. // Labadee is a port located on the Northern coast of Haiti. Activity almost stopped due to covid-19.
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Haiti, it brought the country to a halt. Stores closed, tourists disappeared, and jobs vanished.
With the situation rapidly deteriorating, the EU and its local and international partners immediately began to act. The EU provided key funding to support the country’s emergency medical teams and to explain to people how to protect themselves from getting the virus. These actions have helped prevent Haitians from getting sick, while also heading off a greater humanitarian disaster.
In 2020, the EU activated €3 million to fight the spread of COVID-19 in Haiti. This funding, plays a crucial role in limiting the devastation of the pandemic among Haiti’s most vulnerable.
#Safertogether in Lebanon
by Pascal Maitre
Gebäude, die durch die gewaltige Explosion im August 2020 zerstört wurden. // Buildings destroyed by the massive explosion of August 2020.
Bekaa-Tal, Lager Madinet Senayeh. Familie von Saad Aisha Al Hassan. Keines der Kinder geht zur Schule. Früher fanden sie Gelegenheitsjobs auf den Feldern, aber seit dem Ausbruch der Pandemie sind sie arbeitslos. Sie erhält 100 000 libanesische Pfund pro Person vom Welternährungsprogramm (WFP) für Lebensmittel und 400 000 Pfund vom UNHCR für eine Unterkunft; beide Programme werden von der Europäischen Union finanziert. Sie würden gerne auswandern, egal wohin. Das Leben im Libanon ist schwierig, vor allem wegen der schrecklichen Inflation.
Die Familie hat auch mit Sicherheitsproblemen zu kämpfen, da ihre Töchter von Männern angegriffen und ihre Söhne mit Messern attackiert werden.
Bekaa valley, Madinet Senayeh camp. Family of Saad Aisha Al Hassan. None of the children go to school. They used to find odd jobs in the fields, but since the start of the pandemic they are unemployed.
She receives 100,000 Lebanese pounds per person from WFP for food and 400,000 from UNHCR for housing, both programs are financed by the European Union. They would like to immigrate, anywhere else. Life is difficult in Lebanon, especially due to the terrible inflation.
The family also faces security issues, with assault by men on their daughters and knife attacks on their sons.
Im Hauses von Aisha. // Inside the home of Aisha.
Badyaas Ehemann arbeitete früher als Bäcker in Beirut, aber wegen der COVID-19 verlor er seinen Job. // Badyaa’s husband used to work has a baker in Beirut, but because of the COVID-19 he lost his job.
Beirut, Bezirk Naba'a. Mahmoud floh mit seiner Frau aus Syrien, wo sie Lehrkräfte waren. Heute sind sie auf humanitäre Hilfe angewiesen, um zu überleben. // Beirut, Naba'a district. Mahmoud fled Syria with his wife, where they were teachers. Today, they rely on humanitarian aid to survive.
Beqqa-Tal // Beqqa valley
Across Lebanon, vulnerable people of all nationalities and walks of life have been engulfed by crises. In early 2020, five months before the disastrous port blast in Beirut, COVID-19 began to spread in the country. The pandemic arrived during a period of political crisis. Out-of-control inflation had decimated people’s savings, leaving many unable to afford even the most basic essentials.
In 2020, the European Union provided €83 million in crucial humanitarian aid to support the basic needs of vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian refugees, directing more than €4.3 million to COVID-19 relief efforts.
#Safertogether in Uganda
by Stephane Lagoutte
Entlang der Straße in Sweswe, während ein Windstoß Erde aufwirbelt. // Along the road in Sweswe as the wind, laden with earth, picks up.
Baptistischer Gottesdienst am Sonntagmorgen. // Sunday morning Baptist mass.
Bukere ist das Hauptdorf des Camps. Diese Allee ist die größte und beherbergt eine Vielzahl von Geschäften aller Art. Das Lager besteht aus 27 Dörfern, die sich auf 9 Zonen verteilen. // Bukere is the main village of the camp. This avenue is the biggest one, it gathers a lot of shops of all kinds. The camp is made up of 27 villages spread over 9 zones.
Minonga Kabangu, 38, seine Frau, ihre 6 Kinder in Bwiriza vor ihrem Haus. Minonga und seine Familie sind ein gutes Beispiel für Menschen, die alles in ihrer Macht stehende tun, um sich Erfolg zu erarbeiten. Sie kaufen Tiere, bewirtschaften einen Gemüsegarten, betreiben eine Schneiderei, bilden ihre Kinder aus...
Minonga Kabangu, 38, his wife, their 6 children in Bwiriza in front of their house. Minonga and his family are a good example of people who do their utmost to put in place the means to succeed. Buying animals, cultivating a vegetable garden, running a tailor's shop, educating their children...
Frauen, die auf eine medizinische Durchsicht warten. // Women waiting for a medical check-up.
Bargeldverteilungszentrum in Itambabiniga. In Uganda basiert die Hilfspolitik hauptsächlich auf finanzieller Unterstützung. Sie erhalten einen monatlichen Betrag pro Person für den Grundbedarf. Einige erhalten auch Lebensmittel, aber die Bargeldhilfe dient dazu, die Grundbedürfnisse zu decken. In einigen Fällen können sie zusätzliche Hilfe erhalten, um Projekte zu entwickeln oder wenn sie sich aus einem konkreten Grund in einer extrem prekären Situation befinden. Behinderte, isolierte Kinder, ältere Menschen mit kleinen Kindern usw.
Cash distribution centre in Itambabiniga. In Uganda the aid policy is mainly based on financial assistance. They receive a monthly sum per person for basic needs. There is also food distribution for some, but the cash assistance is helping buying the basics. In some cases they can have additional help to develop projects or if they are in an extremely precarious situation for a concrete reason. Disabled, isolated children, elderly people with small children etc.
Den Geflüchteten werden bei ihrer Ankunft Grundstücke zugeteilt. Manchmal in Dörfern, manchmal in der Natur mit Flächen, auf denen sie manchmal pflanzen können. Einige schaffen es, zusätzliche Tiere zu kaufen. Einige Hühner können zum Beispiel Eier produzieren, die sie als zusätzliches Einkommen verkaufen können. // Plots of land are given to refugees upon arrival. Sometimes in villages, sometimes in nature with areas that sometimes allow them to plant. Some manage to buy additional animals. Some hens can, for example, produce eggs that they can sell for additional income.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the European Union has moved quickly to provide emergency humanitarian aid for Kyaka II and other refugee camps in the country. In 2020 alone, the EU contributed more than €34 million to address the needs of Uganda’s 1.4 million refugees and their host communities.
Uganda is no stranger to epidemics. Before the coronavirus, there was Ebola. These epidemics terrorised the region, particularly Uganda’s large refugee communities. These outbreaks taught Ugandan authorities and the European Union supported humanitarian organizations an important lesson: act swiftly to prevent broader social and economic devastation
#Safertogether in Bangladesh
by Oliver Laban-Mattei
Ein junges Rohingya-Flüchtlingsmädchen aus dem Lager Kutupalong im Süden Bangladeschs spielt mit ihrem kleinen Bruder. // A young Rohingya refugee girl from the Kutupalong camp in southern Bangladesh plays with her little brother.
Die Schulen sind wegen der Pandemie geschlossen. Abdul, 42, zieht von Hütte zu Hütte, um den Kontakt aufrechtzuerhalten und seiner Lehrtätigkeit nachzugehen. // Schools are closed because of the pandemic. Abdul, 42, goes around the shacks to maintain contact and pursue his teaching.
Im Flüchtlingslager Kutupalong leben fast eine Million Rohingyas. // Kutupalong refugee camp hosts almost one million Rohingyas.
Ein PCR-Test wird im Flüchtlingslager Teknaf durchgeführt. // A PCR test is carried out in Teknaf refugee camp.
Die Hälfte der Flüchtlinge in dem Lager sind Kinder. // Half of the refugees in the camp are children.
In 2017, Myanmar’s government led an anti-Rohingya campaign that forced more than 500,000 of them to flee the country and take refuge in Bangladesh. In several weeks, one of the biggest refugee camp emerged near Cox’s Bazar. As of 2020, the Kutupalong camp hosts around 750,000 Rohingya, living in a very precarious situation.
The COVID-19 crisis has severely impacted the access of humanitarian organisations to the camp, worsening the life conditions of the refugees.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the EU has stepped up its support on quality health services and sanitation in the camps. The European Union contributions totalling €24.5 million in 2021 provide much-needed humanitarian aid for refugees. The funding supports numerous programs that directly limit the impact of COVID19. Teaching people how to avoid getting sick, personal hygiene strategies—along with COVID-tests and treatment—are all critical pieces in preventing viral transmission in the camps.
#Safertogether in Ecuador
by Agnès Dherbeys
Ein Blick auf Quito, die Hauptstadt. // A view on Quito, the capital.
Dalis mit zwei ihrer Töchter. Shary (10 Jahre alt) und Elizabeth (7 Jahre alt). // Dalis with two of her daughters. Shary (10 years old) and Elizabeth (7 years old).
Die Familienzusammenführung mit seiner Tante in Kolumbien ist genehmigt, liegt aber auf Eis, weil die Grenzen wegen der Covid-19-Pandemie geschlossen sind. In der Mitte: Camillo, Kolumbianer (9 Jahre alt). // Family reunification process with his aunt in Colombia is approved, but is on hold because borders are closed due to Covid-19 pandemic. In the center, Camillo, Colombian (9-year old).
Dalisís Familie kocht in ihrem neuen Haus in Santo Domingo. // Dalisís family cooks in their new home in Santo Domingo.
In Ecuador, there are an estimated 415,000 Venezuelan migrants and refugees, along with 68,500 refugees from Colombia. When the coronavirus arrived, emergency shelters were forced to cut back on staff and services. Border closings stranded people, including children with no parents to look after them.
The European Union is working with its partners in Ecuador to ensure the thousands of migrants and refugees in the country remain safe in these perilous times.
