In the 35th week of implementation of the project "Humanitarian Support COVID-19", the ADRA team reached 596 people of which: 327 are adults fighting to ensure decent living conditions; 195 are single elderly people and with acute subsistence need; 70 are children from disadvantaged backgrounds, but who have exceptional academic results; and 4 are victims of domestic violence.
Therefore, in the week of November 1–7 alone, the ADRA project “Humanitarian Support COVID-19” utilized specialized services adapted to the specific needs generated or accentuated by the COVID-19 context for 596 beneficiaries, as follows: 567 people received basic food for a decent living and to be able to get through these days of crisis more easily, of which 75 received a hot meal at home every day; 20 people received help to provide shelter; 9 people benefited from social assistance and psychological counseling for the crisis.
“At the national level, the COVID-19 phenomena triggered a strong sense of unrest among the population,” said Mariana Roș, Psychologist for ADRA Romania. “All this period of uncertainty has led to increased depression and anxiety in society, which will inevitably lead to increased cases of domestic violence. Indirectly, measures taken during the pandemic increase the risk factors associated with violence, abuse, and neglect of children. School closures and the pressure generated by fear for their health, add new stressors for some parents who are forced to give up jobs to supervise their children. Here, we can add the economic crisis that we are beginning to feel [more and more], caused by the bankruptcy of a certain society, which has led to the loss of jobs in the market. Last but not least, this period of instability has forced us to discover ourselves, to show us what our human limitations are and how man reacts after exceeding this threshold. To overcome this situation we face,” Mariana Roș continued, “it is necessary for people to be more tolerant and forbearing of each other, to support each other, and not remain indifferent to the needs of those around them. During this time, in the ADRA team, with God's help, we collaborate efficiently and value each other because we have the main ingredient: love in service.”
“Lately we have been witnessing a worrying increase in the number of COVID-19 virus cases, which is leading the authorities to take additional civil protection measures, thus issuing a legislative decision limiting travel between 23:00 and 05:00. There is also a firm recommendation that work, where possible, be carried out remotely,” said Bogdan Stănică, Project Manager for ADRA Romania. “The impact on the activities of the ADRA team is quite small, the projects taking place in normal parameters. The increase in coronavirus measures allows the ADRA team to get more involved in community life, thus being much more present and visible,” concluded Bogdan Stănică.
Within the project “Humanitarian support COVID-19”, specially created for the current situation, ADRA Romania aims to reduce the risks generated by the COVID-19 virus among the population. This objective is achieved by promoting prevention measures and socio-economic adaptability, and by ensuring the provision of needed commodities to maintain safety.
Since 1990, ADRA Romania has been involved in special projects to provide care for beneficiaries in the whole country. Leading its project under the motto “Justice. Compassion. Love.”, through which a better value and human dignity are promoted for the future, ADRA Romania brings joy and hope to elderly beneficiaries. As the provider of accredited social services, ADRA Romania is a part of the ADRA International network, the global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, one of the most wide-spread non-governmental organizations in the world. The network is active in more than 130 countries and projects are implemented under the philosophy that caring combines compassion with the practical spirit by addressing people in need, without them being of a particular race, ethnicity, political orientation, or religion, just to provide a human service so that the world can coexist as planned.
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