Non-governmental organisations supported 1.7 million people during the pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has left many people in financial hardship. In a blog article on DeFacto, journalist Adrian Ritter highlights the vital role played by civil society in crisis management.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, a section of the population suffered significant losses of income. Those particularly affected were people on low incomes and those in precarious employment and living conditions – including many migrants, women and younger workers. During this period, the support and initiatives provided by civil society organisations were crucial, particularly for people who had no or only limited access to state support. Hundreds of aid organisations, such as Caritas, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army served as vital points of contact. According to estimates, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) supported around 1.7 million people in Switzerland during the pandemic. The financial, material and psychological support of these organisations was indispensable.
For his article on the role of non-governmental organisations in crisis management, science journalist Adrian Ritter spoke to three researchers from the research groups 'Frontline work in humanitarian crises' and 'Poverty and social security'. The article has been published in the NRP 80 blog series on DeFacto.