The miserable life of the Khmu people in the epicenter of La Ngan

Thanh Cuong• DNUM_CAZAHZCACB 12:39

(Baonghean.vn) - The Covid-19 pandemic broke out in the poor border district of Ky Son. In just 3 days, this district had 6 infected cases with 91 F1 and 211 F2. The poor villages of La Ngan and Luu Tien, along with the authorities of Ky Son district, are making every effort to control the epidemic.

Next to the late-season gourd trellis, Mrs. Moong Thi Phan is picking the last young gourd shoots, and she also picks the old leaves to put in her bag. This will be dinner for nearly 10 people in her family. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Her family in La Ngan village, Chieu Luu commune (Ky Son) has 2 sons, 1 daughter-in-law who is in confinement and 5 grandchildren. Her husband, Mr. Moong Van Lien, has been mentally ill for nearly 20 years. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Mrs. Phan’s two sons also have mental problems, all day long they sit and stare and then wander around the village. They can’t do anything. Nearly 10 mouths in the house depend on her alone. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The Covid-19 pandemic broke out, the poor village of La Ngan was locked down, people restricted travel to prevent and fight the epidemic. Having to sit still and not be able to go to the fields, her family was seriously short of food. Photo: Thanh Cuong

“We haven’t been able to go to the forest these past few days, so we’ve only been looking for food around the house like wild eggplants, squash leaves, etc. The rice we received yesterday is probably enough for two more days,” she said. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Next to him, Mr. Ven Van Xan, his wife and four grandchildren were sitting in front of the door waiting to get their samples taken for testing. He, his wife and their grandchildren had just returned from the fields. Photo: Thanh Cuong

On the day they returned to the village, they were shocked to see the blockade at the entrance of the village. Strangers dressed in blue suits walked in groups. There were more police and militia. He was even more worried when he received a notice to stay home and not go anywhere to prevent and fight the epidemic. Photo: Thanh Cuong

"We can't go to the fields, we can't bring any food or supplies back, our children and grandchildren won't know what to eat for the next few days" - Mr. Xan said. Photo: Thanh Cuong

According to Ms. Vi Thi Loan - Secretary of the village Party Cell, La Ngan village has 148 households, 756 people, 100% of whom are Khmu people. Up to 80% of the village is poor and near-poor. People here live mainly in the forest and work on the fields. However, in the past 3 years, the fields have continuously failed, combined with the outbreak of the pandemic, so people have encountered many difficulties. Photo: Thanh Cuong

On the third day of medical isolation, around the houses of the households, the wild eggplant plants only have a few fruits left, and the squash trellis has also begun to have its last old leaves picked. Mr. Ven Van Xan's family has not yet found rice to cook dinner tonight. Without other sources of support, the lives of Mrs. Phan's family, Mr. Xan and many other households in La Nga village and Luu Tien village will certainly face many difficulties in the following days of medical isolation. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Previously, on July 17, the first Covid-19 infection case appeared in La Ngan village. That was the case of a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in La Ngan village, Chieu Luu commune. Both were F1 of the patient in Cham Puong village, Luong Minh commune (Tuong Duong). To prevent and control the epidemic, the Provincial People's Committee decided to establish a medical isolation area for La Ngan village from 0:00 on July 18. Photo: Thanh Cuong

With the motto "Resolutely not letting people go hungry", to better meet the people's basic needs, Ky Son district has assigned the district's Fatherland Front Committee to be the focal point for receiving, distributing and ensuring appropriate distribution of food, foodstuffs and relief goods. The district's Fatherland Front Committee has called on the district's communes and towns, units and businesses located in the area to join hands to support people facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Thanh Cuong