Meal of Mong people returning from epidemic area

Thanh Cuong• DNUM_BAZAIZCACB 15:55

(Baonghean.vn) - Citizens returning from the southern provinces must undergo a 14-day centralized quarantine and bear all daily expenses. Unable to pay for food, many citizens in Ky Son have to ask their family members to bring them food.

Mr. Ho Tong Xo left Tien Tieu village, Na Ngoi commune (Ky Son) to go to Binh Duong to work for hire for 3 months. When the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, Mr. Xo and his fellow countrymen rode motorbikes back to their hometown. For more than 10 days now, he and 46 others who also returned from the southern provinces have been quarantined at Nam Can 1 Primary School. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Unable to afford food, his wife, Ms. Mua Y Sua, had to cook and bring her husband to the quarantine area nearly 2km away from home every day. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Ho Tong Xo's family has 7 people, including his newlywed son and his wife. Three months ago, he went to Binh Duong to work for a carpentry workshop. His son and his wife worked as factory workers. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, losing his job and fearing the disease, Mr. Xo decided to ride a motorbike back to his hometown with others. His son and his wife are still stuck, without a vehicle to return home. Photo: Thanh Cuong

More than 3 days later, Mr. Xo arrived at his hometown and was taken to a centralized quarantine facility to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic according to regulations. "I was very worried when I heard that he came home by motorbike, but luckily he arrived home safely," said Ms. Mua Y Sua. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Since her husband returned to a centralized quarantine area near home, Ms. Mua Y Sua has stopped working in the fields and has been cooking at home and bringing it to the quarantine area for her husband. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The daily menu she prepares only includes rice and some vegetables found around the house, like boiled beans or stir-fried chayote shoots,... Photo: Thanh Cuong

Photo: Thanh Cuong

Half a kilo of cooked rice is put into a plastic bag by Ms. Mua Y Sua. This is Ho Tong Xo's daily food ration. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Because she did not know how to ride a motorbike, after preparing the meal, she walked nearly 2km to deliver the food to the quarantine area. Photo: Thanh Cuong

According to Mr. Ho No Cha - Deputy Head of Tien Tieu village, Nam Can commune, the village has about 100 people working in other provinces, mainly in the South. During this epidemic, nearly 40 people returned and were quarantined at Nam Can 1 Primary School, all of whom had to rely on their families to bring them food and water. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Currently, the entire Nam Can commune has 154 citizens from the South and are being quarantined at 3 locations, which are schools in the commune. Most of these people are from poor and near-poor households. "More than 90 people quarantined at Nam Can Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities are having meals together. The remaining people quarantined at the other 2 locations are being cooked and brought by their families," said Mr. Xong Ba Lau - Vice Chairman of Nam Can Commune People's Committee. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Up to this point, the entire Ky Son border district has more than 2,900 workers returning from the southern provinces, who are being quarantined at schools in 21 communes and towns. These are not eligible for food support, so their families must provide for themselves. Photo: Thanh Cuong