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SCMP – Refugees in Hong Kong struggle to buy supplies as panic buying over lockdown rumours sweeps food off shelves

Mar 4th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment

Abolish refugee food cards in Hong Kong

Mar 2nd, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment

 

We are the Refugee Union, Hong Kong’s only refugee-led society. There are currently more than 14,000 refugees and asylum seekers in the city. Not everyone is a member of our society but on this demand for change we probably speak for the majority.

In January 2014 Hong Kong Government introduced “food cards” valued at HK$1200 a month for refugees to purchase groceries at Park’n’Shop supermarkets. Refugees protested that prices were cheaper at other stores and especially at local wet markets. For the past eight years the policy has not changed, nor has the cards’ value increased with inflation. Regrettably our demands for change consistently fall on deaf ears.

The current pandemic made matters worse. Residents are stocking up on groceries ahead of the universal Covid-19 testing scheduled for the coming weeks. The mass testing will likely involve a week-long citywide lockdown which already caused panic buying across Hong Kong. Shelves in many supermarkets and stores have been stripped bare, especially at Park’n’Shop.

Panic buying is hurting refugees most because we don’t have family, social or community networks to help us when government assistance fails. Forcing refugees to use “food cards” only at one supermarket group greatly limits our opportunities to purchase groceries and maximizes food insecurity and hunger in our families. It doesn’t have to be this way.

It is laughable to suggest that refugees should not receive cash because we will buy beer and cigarettes … that is simply not the rational behaviour of hungry human beings. It is unreasonable to distrust refugees from managing HK$40 a day to buy the groceries we need at the cheapest prices we can find in the neighbourhood.

We respectfully demand that Hong Kong Government recognize the physical and psychological harm caused to vulnerable refugee families and urgently replace the “food cards” with stored-value Octopus cards accepted by all groceries shops and at some stalls in wet markets.

Hong Kong’s empty supermarket shelves scream against the economic injustice represented by these “food cards”. Please support our demand for change. Thank you.

We would be grateful if you could share this petition with family, friends and on social media as word of mouth is the best way to raise awareness and advocate for change.

CLICK TO SIGN OUR PETITION: https://chng.it/2QZz2N9cxL

 

Refugees fight hunger with donations

Mar 1st, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment

The recent panic buying at supermarkets is especially problematic for refugees because we can only buy groceries at Park’n’Shop. Our government-issued food cards provide HK$ 1,200 a month ($40 a day) in electronic allowance that cannot be spent in any supermarket, wet market or grocery shop other than those in the Park’n’Shop group. So what are we supposed to do when we find no bread, rice, noodles, vegetables and fruits there? 

The limitations of this inflexible policy are particularly glaring under the challenging conditions of this pandemic lockdown. A member from Yuen Long posted on our group chat, “So sad. No food to buy. Where will we use our foodcard?” A member from Kowloon added, “Sham Shui Po Parknshop is the same thing! No juice. No vegetable. No egg. No have any fruit also … oranges, grapes … anything I cannot find tonight!” Another member complained, “Mine is empty too. My case officer doesn’t even reply how to use the foodcard in quarantine. All Parknshop is empty. So Sad ????” 

In these difficult times we are deeply thankful for the generous support of donors who not only provide essential groceries, but also donate cash that allows us to purchase food wherever we can find it. It is tough enough to live in Hong Kong with empty wallets in normal times, but this pandemic has taken our suffering to another level. Frankly, without the support of residents, our families would be going hungry. The government is closed for us. 

If possible, please donate to our crowdfunding program which helps us fight hunger. Currently online orders are backed up for weeks, so cash donations are the most direct and practical ways to help us today. We can then purchase what we need at wet markets and local grocery stores where supplies are still available. 

Please spread the word with friends and on social media as the best way to raise awareness about our plight.

To support with cash please visit our crowdfunding program here: https://bit.ly/3qYFq5u

HKFP – How to support HK’s refugees

Feb 28th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment

TATLER – How to Support the Charities Helping Hong Kong’s Most Vulnerable

Feb 28th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment

FEBRUARY ROUNDUP

Feb 28th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment

Dear Members, Donors, and Volunteers,

This month has been a challenging one to us and to other people in Hong Kong. The city is again put under lockdown following the fifth wave of outbreak of coronavirus disease. We are thankful to people like you who, despite all difficulties, still think about us and lend us a hand. This roundup presents you an update about our centre throughout the month.

About us

We are the Refugee Union. Our organisation was founded in 2014 and is the first refugee-led organisation in Hong Kong. Our centre is currently based in Sheung Wan. We share the vision to safeguard refugee rights and have been collaborating with our community partners to improve the status quo of asylum seekers and refugees stranded in Hong Kong.

Urgent call for assistance

Activities at our centre were halted in view of the worsening and worrying pandemic situation. The lockdown does not hurt only local businesses but also us asylum seekers and refugees, putting us in a more vulnerable situation.

Government offices, churches, and many supporting organisations are now closed, meaning that we have nowhere to seek help. Prices go skyrocketing as people scramble for necessities under panic. For us asylum seekers and refugees, we can barely survive with very limited vital resources.

We sincerely seek your help to donate us the following items:

Cash donations are also welcome. We have a crowdfunding campaign here. Thank you to our friends at GIVE.Asia in Singapore for launching this crowdfunding campaign for us.

We would also like to thank media professionals at Hong Kong Free Press (read here) and South China Morning Post (read here) for featuring us and raising awareness about refugee issues during the pandemic.

Giving is a blessing

Asylum seekers in Hong Kong are prohibited from working and are solely reliant on a limited stipend of some HK$3,000 (US$385) and few necessities, to survive. Essentials such as baby’s items and toiletries are not (adequately) provided. Despite activities being halted, members are in need of necessities.

While we are calling for urgent assistance, this month we have received donations of wide-ranging items. We would like to take this chance to express our heartfelt gratitude to all generous Donors for lending us a hand. Your support means a lot to us. As always, we promise to deliver all donations we received to our members who are in need.

Please stay tuned to our official website and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the most updated information. You are also welcome to contact us by email at info@refugeeunion.org or by visiting our centre during office hours (Mon to Sat, 10:00-18:00). *Office hours may be adjusted, kindly contact us in advance.

Thank you for your support of our initiative. We are refugees helping refugees.

SCMP reports on our Food Drive

Feb 23rd, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment

Lockdown Emergency Food Drive

Feb 21st, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment

Dearest Donors, we need your help ????
 
We have received the sane HK$40 daily food allowance from the Hong Kong Government since January 2014, for which we are grateful. However, the electronic food cards may only be used at Park’n’Shop which is obviously more expensive than Kai Bo marts, 759 stores and the cheaper wet markets around town.
 
Prices at Park’n’Shop are skyrocketing … for example:
 
a. 8Kg of rice was $86 but it now $113
b. a box of pasta was $14 but is now $24
c. a can of sardines was $12 but is now 28
d. a bag of choisam was $12 but is now $24
e. three packs of milk were $45 but are now $59
f. a carrot was $4 but is now $9
g. a cucumber was $12 but is now $38
 
If possible, please help us buy some of the groceries listed below. These are essential items that are out of our reach. Your help will go a long way in feeding our families. Sadly we are beggars as we are not allowed to work. Our opportunities are limited since we have no money in our wallets and churches / NGOs are either struggling with resources or closed by Covid-19 infections. A partner’s monthly grocery donation was cancelled yesterday! ????

Here is a suggested donation of twelve items we need the most and suitable for all cultures and religions:

  1. Bag of Rice
  2. Box of Pasta / Noodles
  3. Bottle of Cooking oil
  4. Canned tuna / sardines
  5. Canned beans / soup
  6. Bag of instant noodles
  7. Box of UHT Milk
  8. Biscuits and crackers
  9. Fresh vegetables
  10. Fresh fruits
  11. Toilet paper / tissue
  12. Panadol Extra as refugees also get sick ????

You are most welcome to deliver to our centre anytime during opening hours:

Address: Unit E, 2/F., Lee Fung Building, 315-319 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Time: 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays
Contact: Mr Ibrahim
WhatsApp: 9828 7176

Delivery may be arranged in person, by courier, Deliveroo, SF Express, Gogo van or directly by the supermarket????

Frankly, cash donations are most flexible as we can then buy at local groceries the ethnic products that we eat at the cheapest prices – thank you for your understanding.

To support us with cash please visit our crowdfunding program here: https://bit.ly/3qYFq5u

The registered charity “Drink For Justice” will issue tax-deductible receipts for cash donations above $200.

Please share this post with friends and on social media as word of mouth is best to raise awareness for us ✅

Thank you from the heart for being there in our moment of need! ????

Leaving Hong Kong? Check this to-do list

Feb 17th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment

We are grateful to the website LIFESTYLE ASIA for suggesting donations to Refugee Union to those leaving Hong Kong.

Click this link to read the article: https://www.lifestyleasia.com/hk/whats-on/leaving-hong-kong-check-list/

Quote: “Regardless of whether you’re being treated to a relocation package, forking out for movers off your own back or just winging it with a couple of suitcases, you’re more than likely going to have accumulated quite a few things over your time here. Unless you’re particularly attached to your IKEA furniture, odds are that selling or donating is the best way to go. List your things up on faithfuls such as Facebook Marketplace, Carousel and Asia Expat, or considering donating to a charity like the Refugee Union who are always grateful to receive clothes, kitchen items and old electronics.”

By the way, many of our members have been stuck in Hong Kong for more than a decade and cannot leave …

Anyway the article is absolutely correct: Got stuff to give away? Please WhatsApp 9828 7176 for gratitude ????

Emergency lockdown appeal

Feb 10th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment

This lockdown hurts refugees most because government offices are closed, charity services greatly reduced and even churches locked their doors. It is hard for us to collect the emergency support we need to make ends meet. When supermarket prices soar it is even harder to survive on $40 a day! https://refugeeunion.org/support/
 
You can HELP US directly by bringing groceries to our centre, organizing food drives with your friends and donating cash to our crowdfunding program: https://bit.ly/3qYFq5u
 
Can you help? Please WhatsApp 9828 7176

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