Weakened by the current crisis, thousands of people again waited several hours on Saturday to receive a package of basic necessities.
Beneficiaries of the Soldarity Caravan sometimes still had to stay on the site for several hours, but the wait was reduced for this food distribution in Geneva.
KEYSTONE
The distribution of food and hygienic products organized for several Saturdays in Geneva is always more in demand. A record of more than 3,280 packages were donated this week, several hundred more than the previous one.
“Sustainable social consequences”
Despite this increasing affluence, the wait certainly continued to spread over several hours but decreased thanks to the changes made to the organization. The gradual resumption of economic activities has not, however, “absorbed the lasting social consequences” of the crisis, notes the City of Geneva, which is now piloting this assistance launched six weeks ago by the Solidarity Caravan.
The number of donors is stable. In addition to the packages received, the beneficiaries also find support from several actors to conduct their search for social assistance, financial support and access to care. Among the concerns of people on the move, rent delays and bills come first.
In the crowd, there are both precarious workers, without legal status, and residents with residence permits. They also receive indications in terms of health thanks to contacts from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Geneva University Hospitals (HUG).
This distribution was also the last of the administrative advisor in charge of social cohesion and solidarity, Esther Alder, before the new executive took office on Monday. According to her, the system, with the economic recovery, “must absolutely switch to decentralized operations in the municipalities”.
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New site to identify
This emergency assistance raises questions about existing social assistance and access for certain groups of populations to it, says the City. At the end of her mandate, the magistrate salutes the “collective commitment” faced with this crisis.
The files of workers without legal status and access to social assistance for potential beneficiaries will be assessed by the canton. Mrs. Alder calls on the Grand Council to work at the request of State Councilor Thierry Apothéloz for an emergency fund of 15 million francs.
The current distribution site will be used again next Saturday. Discussions then continue for a new mechanism.
The founder of the Solidarity Caravan, for her part, welcomes the commitment of volunteers, while after Geneva, the system has expanded to several cities in the canton of Vaud. Silvana Mastromatteos also hopes that these efforts will not diminish after the greater recovery of economic activities.
((ATS / NXP)
Posted today at 7:25 pm-
