Republic of Korea ensures continuation of food support to returning migrant workers in quarantine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea has released USD 200,000 in humanitarian assistance dedicated to Lao PDR’s response to COVID-19. This donation will enable WFP to continue its food assistance to migrant workers in 18 quarantine centres across 7 provinces of Lao PDR. WFP and its implementing partners - the Swiss Red Cross, the Lao Red Cross and World Vision International will provide three daily nutritious meals to over 5,600 returning migrant workers.

“The support is a follow-up measure of the Republic of Korea - Lao PDR Foreign Ministers’ Meeting a month ago in the midst of the pandemic as well as the third round of the Republic of Korea’s humanitarian assistance to the Lao PDR since the pandemic began last year, which reflects both countries’ willingness to overcome this hardship together. I do hope that this support can help us get through these challenging times,” Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Lao PDR, H.E. Moohong Im said.

The Korean government has been closely cooperating with the Government of Lao PDR to strengthen COVID-19 testing capacity of the Lao PDR, providing walk-through booths, test kits and other medical supplies. It has also been collaborating with WFP at a local and global level, which includes the recent donation to the Lao government of 1,320 metric tons of rice in June 2021 for emergency food supplies in times of disasters.

“It is great that more and more donors recognize how important it is to keep quarantine centres running. While national authorities are doing what they can to keep the country safe, we at WFP see it as our honourable task to continue supporting quarantine provisions, via generous donations and effective implementation partners. Since June 2020, we have delivered around 1.8 million meals to over 70,000 people. By isolating, in humane conditions, every person who is carrying the virus into country, we are coming closer to leaving this pandemic behind,” said WFP Country Director and Representative Jan Delbaere.

WFP started its food assistance activities in COVID-19 quarantine centres in June 2020. Since early September this year, the organisation has been providing meals in primary, long-term quarantine centres to approximately 1,800 people per day. The provision of daily meals to returning migrant workers in these centres contributes to enable returnees to complete their quarantine periods knowing that they do not need to search for alternative sources of food. The support also helps maintain their health and wellbeing, while reducing the financial burden on them and their families.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the winner of the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.  We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. In Lao PDR, WFP supports the government in providing school lunches for primary students, counters malnutrition with targeted food support to the most vulnerable, and helps communities build resilient lives with sustainable livelihood options.

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