Riot-hit families at relief camps now fear coronavirus

'Lekin jab ghar hi jal gaya to coronavirus kya kar lega'

Hundreds of riot-hit families sheltered at an Eidgah in Mustafabad in northeast Delhi are regularly urged to wash their hands and maintain cleanliness.

Volunteers provide medicines and sanitisers and health experts counselling.

Already battling mental trauma following the deadly communal riots, the families are now faced with another challenge: The threat of novel coronavirus.

The volunteers and health professionals don't say the word "coronavirus" for fear of stoking panic among the people at the camp who include a large number of children.

A lot of people have been complaining about cough, cold, vomiting and fever, said Laik Ahmad, from Doctors' Unity Welfare Association, which has set up a free health camp at the Eidgah.

"Besides medicines, we have been asking them to use masks and wash their hands. But we don't take the name 'coronavirus'. It may create panic among people who have already been going through a lot," Ahmad, 43, said.

Doctors and volunteers said all steps were being taken to keep the compound clean but maintaining hygiene with so many people is a challenge. There are only a few mobile toilets, which has put the elderly, women and children to a lot of trouble.

Members of healthcare teams said representatives of various organisations have been visiting the camp and there is a need for everyone to take proper precautions.

"We have enough soap and water but there's a shortage of masks," Ahsan Saifi, another doctor, said.

Ankita Upreti from Self-Employed Women's Association said volunteers have been trying to ensure there's no panic among people due to the virus, which has infected 30 people across the country.

"These people have gone through so much... There are lot of problems to deal with and we have not been able to pay attention to coronavirus threat properly. For now, we are asking people to maintain cleanliness and wash their hands," she said.

On Thursday, the government asked states to form rapid response teams at district, block and village levels.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has announced that all primary schools in Delhi will remain closed till March 31 to prevent the possibility of spread of the virus.

Arman, a healthcare team member, said announcements are being made, asking people to wash hands and collect masks from volunteers at health camps.

"Lekin jab ghar hi jal gaya to coronavirus kya kar lega (How does coronavirus matter when they have already lost their homes)," he added.