Mindful Action: COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund

Dear Friends of INEB,

In May 2020, the International Network of Engaged Buddhists – INEB, based in Bangkok, Thailand, announced the availability of Mindful Action: COVID-19 Emergency Relief Funds made possible through generous donors. INEB’s donors include Join Together Society, South Korea; Hongshi Buddhist College, Taiwan; Arigatou International, Japan; Clear View Project, USA; and individual donors.

INEB’s members prioritized these funds to be distributed among its local partners in four countries:  Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Nepal. These funds are being used to provide immediate emergency relief by: distributing food commodities, hygiene supplies, traditional medicines to strengthen people’s immune systems; conducting sanitation activities; providing psycho-social counseling, providing accurate information and increasing awareness about COVID-19, and information to protect children living in refugee camps in northern Myanmar from sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The communities where INEB’s partners work within India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar have groups and populations that are often neglected or actively discriminated against. Our partners are able to respond to the emergency situation and conduct their emergency relief activities because of their established networks and relationships with local government authorities, community-based organizations (CBOs), and other relevant organizations and individuals.  

Since the organizations applied for funds at different times, they are all in various stages of implementing their relief activities. Some organizations’ activities have been delayed for various reasons including weather conditions such as the monsoon rains and flooding, and receiving permission to access the targeted communities. The reports from the projects tell about how much the people appreciate the food and other activities. They also tell about great the need is.

As of August 25, 20 proposals have been awarded funds directly benefitting an estimated 24,858 persons.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to all our donors who contributed to our relief fund. The relief efforts from our partners have been very successful. We will be continuing the distribution of relief funds to our local partners in the next few months.

Thanking you again for your continued support.

With Metta,

Rita Litwiller

Project Manager

Links:

• INEB's Mindful Action COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund Website