Survey: 76% of Albanian households do not meet the food needs at all or partially during COVID-19 pandemic

 Screenshot of Word Vision Albania survey

 The economic insecurity of families is affecting the well-being of children in Albania. The situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic has affected food security in the family and increased unemployment.

76% of families report that they do not meet the food needs at all or partially during COVID-19 pandemics.

68% of respondents expressed concern that in the near future the situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic will affect their employment or self-employment. Meanwhile, the percentage of families reporting unemployment due to this situation has increased by 10%.

These are some of the main findings of the situation assessment report undertaken by World Vision Albania (charity organization operating in Albania) for 1199 families in 15 municipalities of the country. The data collection has been done in the period April 28 - May 8, 2020, and the average duration of each telephone interview were 44 minutes.

In the focus of this assessment have been some important aspects that have affected families in Albania such as: sources of income before and during the pandemic COVID-19; opportunities for families to meet basic needs; mental health and domestic violence; educating children; knowledge of families to prevent infection and the spread by the new coronavirus.

In addition to the negative impact on sources of income, the report shows that forced stay at home has also affected our mental health, domestic violence, and education.

35% of respondents report very high levels of anxiety and stress. 49% of them report that children have witnessed adult quarrels at home and 17% claim that children have witnessed physical violence in the family.

In the conditions created by Covid 19, the need requires that especially during this period, the child protection mechanisms function well, while psycho-social support is provided and the specialized service reaches the family.

At a time when globalization digitalization is the only way to build bridges of communication, there are still children among us who need technological infrastructure to pursue online learning. According to preliminary findings of the report, 5 in 10 children with disabilities have not been able to attend home classes.

In these conditions, Albanian families need sustainable economic opportunities to recover as soon as possible.