WILLEMSTAD - The Food Bank Curaçao still receives more than 400 new registrations per day. This is according to Sheryl Losiabaar, spokesperson for the Food Bank. Shortly after the end of the lockdown, this number had decreased to about 250 new applications per day, but a significant increase can now be seen, according to Losiabaar.
The number of registrations has increased, according to the spokesperson, because vouchers are also distributed in addition to food packages. These vouchers are provided through the Red Cross, which coordinates the 16.5 million euros that the Netherlands has donated to Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten for emergency relief.
E-vouchers
“At the moment, the numbers of food parcels through the Red Cross have decreased because we are now busy with the distribution of e-vouchers,” says Maisy Scharbay, branch manager of the Red Cross in Curaçao. With these digital tickets people can go to the supermarket themselves to do their shopping.
"This gives people the opportunity to buy fresh vegetables, fruit, bread and spreads." Food packages usually contain cans and long shelf life products. No fresh fruit and vegetables.
The first phase of the emergency aid from the Netherlands will run until September, but the end of the money is already in sight. “We are now almost through the funds. We are currently working with the various aid organizations on the islands to make an inventory of how much money we need, ” says Scharbay.
Financing until the end of 2020
According to Erwin Arkenbout, representative of the Netherlands on Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten, Undersecretary Knops (Kingdom Relations) has already promised that there will also be a phase two, whereby financing will be made available until the end of 2020. “The second phase concerns about 25 million euros until the end of the year, ” says Arkenbout.
This emergency aid is independent of whether or not the third tranche of the corona loan will continue, which Curaçao and the Netherlands are currently negotiating. “The circumstances mean that we continue with the emergency aid. Time will tell whether this will still be necessary after the end of the year, ” says Arkenbout.
So far, the Food Bank has created and distributed a total of 45,555 food packages. This number continues to increase. Losiabaar does not yet know how long the Food Bank will continue. "As long as we are still able to help and have the financial means, we will do it."
Unemployment is increasing due to the crisis
Even before the corona crisis, about thirty percent of the inhabitants lived below the poverty line in Curaçao. In the tourism sector alone, around 16,000 jobs in Curaçao would be at risk from the corona crisis, according to the Ministry of Economic Development. The Central Bank of Curaçao estimates that unemployment will increase from 20 to 60 percent during the corona crisis.
