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Neighbours help Rohingyas overcome lockdown woes
When the pandemic lockdown was announced, refugees at the Rohingya camp were concerned about their family – those with them in Kelambakkam and also the ones in Myanmar.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
As the lockdown remained in place though with some relaxations, these fears only increased. But a kind hand from their neighbours helped ease their immediate worries.
“At first, we were all laid off from work. We were worried primarily about food. At that time, the local people gave us rice, dal and other staples to tide through the difficult time. Some even came to distribute masks. I was worried about my parents, because they are old and this disease affects the elderly more. But they reassured me that they were alright,” said Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the community. Now with the city opening up, most have returned to their jobs. However, the other pressing issue was education of their children.
With almost 80 families in Kelambakkam and all schools remaining closed, Yusuf said his children’s friend’s parents came forward to help.
“They would communicate to us the work that the teacher has assigned for them. Once the child completed the homework, my wife would collect all of their assignments and drop it off at the teacher’s house. Some teachers even took classes for small groups outside her house,” he said.
Regular screenings are held at the camp, and Yusuf is grateful that the community has not been affected by the infection yet. Their main concern remains for their family in their homeland, and the feelings of helplessness that come with it. In the meantime, however, he is grateful for the assistance provided to his community. “We want to return to our homeland – this is something we have been asking for a long time. However, our neighbours have continuously shown us kindness through the last eight years, and especially now. When we return to our homeland, it will be with great kindness to our neighbours,” said Yusuf.
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