Covid-19 support packages were not evenly distributed among persons with disabilities of some 15 organisations, according to a survey of ADD International Bangladesh.

Those who received the support said the packages were not sufficient to their needs, the organisation said in its report "Covid-19 Impact on Persons' with Disabilities Life and Livelihood and Way Forward".

Findings of the report were disclosed yesterday during an online discussion on the topic jointly organised by ADD International Bangladesh, The Daily Star and Bangla daily Samakal.

The telephonic survey was conducted on the 15 organisations between June 9 and June 29. Some 91 respondents took part in it.

Most respondents said many persons with disabilities could not maintain health guidelines accordingly due to shortage of sanitisation kits. The report said the pandemic has adversely affected the livelihood and income opportunities of many persons with disabilities.

Amid the shutdown enforced to contain the virus, persons with disabilities were deprived of work opportunities. Many of those involved in employment either saw their salaries reduced or they lost jobs, said the report. Persons with disabilities who had small businesses had to shut those amid the pandemic, it added.

Sharing the findings, ADD International Bangladesh Field Operation Manager Rafiquzzaman Biswas said how many persons with disabilities of the country have tested coronavirus positive and how many died were still unknown.

ADD International Bangladesh Country Director Shafiqul Islam said persons with disabilities were the worst sufferers of the pandemic. They lacked sufficient capacity to tackle adversity, he said.

The society has to be friendly towards persons with disabilities, said Samakal Editor Mustafiz Shafi.

Otherwise, their sufferings will only worsen in any other disaster in future, he said.

Shobnam Mushtary, deputy secretary to the social welfare ministry, said the ministry through its social services department distributed Tk 3 crore as immediate support including food and cash among the poor, destitute and persons with disabilities at the initial stage of the pandemic.

Besides, Tk 1.10 crore was distributed from Jatiya Protibandhi Unnayan Foundation, and about Tk 25.67 crore from Bangladesh National Social Welfare Council, she said.

She added the ministry sent letters to different government authorities, including the deputy commissioners in April, to give priority to persons with disabilities while providing Covid-19 supports.

The number of persons with disabilities in country is about 21 lakh at present. Of them, 78,232 are in employment including about 60,000 in different trades, she said.

Additional Secretary Ali Reza Mazid of disaster management and relief ministry said since March 24, the ministry has distributed about 2.11 lakh tonnes of rice, Tk 95.83 crores in cash, and child food of Tk 27. 14 crore across the country as humanitarian support.

The beneficiaries included homeless, slum-dwellers, persons with disabilities, elderly, beggars, and unemployed working-class people, he added.