140,000 sex workers facing dire straits: Harc

Sex workers in Bangladesh are facing a serious crisis amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and lockdown measures, with many having lost their incomes and surviving on very little.

HIV/AIDS Research and Welfare Center (Harc) said this in a press statement today based on its assessment and preliminary findings.

The pandemic is not only leaving the over 140,000 active female sex workers in Bangladesh in serious financial constraints, but also causing psychological impacts, Harc said in the statement.

After identifying the grave impact Covid-19 had on the sex workers, Harc took an initiative to distribute reliefs to lessen their sufferings.

On June 15, Harc distributed relief to 100 female sex workers in its third relief distribution since the beginning of the nationwide closure.

Harc provided each person with food items for 10 days and some other necessities. The relief package included 10kg rice, 1kg lentils, 3kg potatoes, 2kg onions, 1-litre cooking oil, 1kg salt, 2 masks, and 2 soap bars.

It was distributed maintaining proper hygiene and social distancing protocols with a maximum of 15 people allowed in the office at any given time.

A temporary food centre and hotline has also been set up by Harc to provide emergency food to sex workers.