Theopiste Nsanzintwari found himself in a situation where he was not sure whether he would get the next meal for a six-member family when he lost a teaching job due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The resident of Shyogwe Sector in Muhanga District has a wife and five children. He said he has been struggling to feed them.

He was a teacher at one of the private secondary schools in Muhanga District, which were financially affected by Covid-19, a pandemic that has ravaged the world in various aspects including health, economy, and emotion.

The School is yet open since March 2020 when the Government closed academic establishments with aim to curb the spread of Covid-19.  

Fortunately, Nsanzintwari's family is among 2,400 households that are beneficiaries of food assistance by Rwanda Red Cross – a humanitarian organization – after their livelihoods were depleted by the Covid-19 pandemic and were worried about their sustenance.

The food items to each household includes 10 kilogrammes of rice, 15 kilogrammes of maize flour (Unga), 10 kilogrammes of beans, three kilogrammes of sugar, and one litre of cooking oil.

The recipients of the food relief are from five districts namely Muhanga, Kamonyi, Nyanza, Ngoma, and Rulindo, with each district having 480 beneficiaries.

Rwanda Red Cross made such a contribution thanks to the financial support from the Government of Canada through its Embassy in Rwanda.

"Losing a job while one still has the responsibility to provide for a family is a challenging situation. This food relief is much needed and important support. It will sustain us for days, as we look for other means for living," he said of Rwanda Red Cross's assistance during a food distribution event in Shyogwe Sector, Muhanga District on Friday, November 06, 2020.

Donatille Mukandamage, another beneficiary of the support, has three children whom she takes care of alone as his husband died. 

Explaining the food shortage situation in which they were living, Mukandamage said that there were no beans, no cassava, or Sweet potatoes available for our nutrition in this period. 

"When I am lucky, I earn a wage of Rwf700 or a basket of Sweet potatoes for a casual labour to till land,” she said, expressing concern that such kind of paid work is not always guaranteed. 

"Sometimes, we go to bed hungry because of lack of food," she said.

"Now, my children and I are going to have nutritious food consisting of rice, beans, maize meal, and cooking oil, which I could not afford, thanks to the Red Cross," she said.

Pierre-Claver Ndimbati, Head of Programmes at Rwanda Red Cross said that the society has been engaged in teaching people about compliance with hygiene and other medical guidelines intended to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as providing foodstuffs to the needy in various parts of the country.

"We try our best, like Red Cross, and in partnership with the Government, to ensure the welfare of the vulnerable," he said, promising a continued commitment to support the needy.

Iphigenie Nyiratunga, the leader of Joint Action Development Forum (JADF) in Muhanga District said that Rwanda Red Cross positively responded to their request to support the people who were not able to get income because of Covid–19.

"This is a support to complement our efforts during circumstances such as Covid-19 that is a hindrance to progress.  ... It is an important action, which I think benefits every person [recipient]," she said.

Sanitation products for women

In line with helping vulnerable women and girls who have difficulties getting clean materials to use in the management of their periods, Rwanda Red Cross donated Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Tools to 1,200 households.

The tools include soaps, lotion (cream), sanitary pads and underwear, Kitenge fabric, and bucket.

Vulnerable residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic get food assistance from the Rwanda Red Cross on Friday, November 6, 2020 in Shyogwe Sector of Muhanga District. / Thierry Uwamungu

Two Rwanda Red Cross volunteers help a person with disabilities carry food ration he received from the society on Friday, November 6, 2020 in Shyogwe Sector of Muhanga District. / Thierry Uwamungu

A woman receives feminine hygiene products from Rwanda Red Cross. / Thierry Uwamungu