MANDALAY----- The current outbreak of COVID-19 response inflicted misery on the grassroots communities.

In Sagaing Region, businesses had stopped during COVID-19 outbreak. Those affected are now dependent on food from the monastery.

Over 200 households from the downtown of Sagaing Region already faced food difficulties.

That’s why Myasetkyar Monastery situated on the Sagaing Mountain is now giving away in charity for the meals to the ordinary families. Likewise, some wellwishers donated rice boxes to the grassroots.

“In the past, other monasteries gave rice and meals to the grassroots. As there has been COVID-19 outbreak in Sagaing Region, the monasteries didn’t share the rice and meals. However, the Myasetkyar Monastery daily distributes rice and meals. Currently, there has been a crowd in front of the monastery. So, the monastery changed to a new place in their backyard,” said local people living near the Sagaing Mountain.

“We live in Mya Yadana Ward in Shweminwun village-tract in Sagaing Region. We, grassroots, have to eke out the livings collecting the waste and selling the recyclers. But, when the recycling businesses closed due to COVID-19, our income dried up. So, we went to the monastery aiming to beg for meals,” said Thein Aung from Mya Yadana Ward.

“The recyclers closed their business three month ago. So, we took the remaining rice and meals from the Mya Satkyar Monastery. I think it is three months. On December 16th, the military distributed rice to the grassroots. In the past, there were about 60 households of ordinary people. Now, more grassroots families came to the monastery from other wards. We never begged for the rice and meals. We were convenient during COVID-19 first wave,” said one of the women.

“We worked in the craft of a mason. Now, the jobs are dried up due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We have no meals. So, we came to the monastery to beg for the rice and meals. There are seven family members. We lived in the building in which the nuns. Although we opened a shop of quid of betel in front of the nuns’ building, it was inconvenient. Now, we have no jobs. So, we are going to the monastery to beg for the meals,” said a person who waits for the meal.

The Sagaing Region Government Committee already issued the Stay-at-Home order from December 11th to 24th. There are around 100 COVID-19 confirmed cases in Sagaing Hospital.