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Gifts to Oxfam Hong Kong contribute to the fight against poverty, at a time when people need it most
Poverty is a global crisis with consequences felt here on our doorstep. Hong Kong reported a staggering 21.4 per cent poverty rate in 2019, and while data is still being collated for 2020, forecasts suggest the Covid-19 pandemic will have worsened matters significantly.
It’s not simply a problem that money can cure. Oxfam Hong Kong is dedicated to creating lasting solutions by tackling the root causes of poverty, adopting a holistic approach that integrates development programmes, advocacy and humanitarian efforts.
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Fighting Pandemic Poverty
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit Hong Kong last year, the city’s most vulnerable residents were disproportionately impacted. To counter these effects, Oxfam Hong Kong launched a humanitarian response to distribute face masks, hand sanitisers and necessities including rice to vulnerable groups, including street cleaners, the elderly, the visually impaired. As of March 2021, more than 337,000 face masks have been distributed.
In partnership with several organisations, support and hygiene information has also been offered to ethnic minority communities in their native languages.
Oxfam fought for the rights of cleaners and sanitation workers on the frontlines of the fight against the pandemic, urging the government to provide proper protective equipment. Other advocacy efforts have included lobbying for an unemployment allowance and against the minimum wage freeze, which would increase low-income workers’ plight and bring progress to a standstill.
Through Give a Meal: Oxfam’s Food Support Project for Low-Income Families, the charity has been distributing meals to low-income families in subdivided accommodation, and is aiming to reach 600 families. In addition to providing nutritious meals, the programme equips families with the knowledge needed to buy healthy food on a budget, and has sought to create part-time employment opportunities for women from low-income backgrounds.
