New Delhi: Riot-hit families at Mustafabad camp now fear coronavirus

New Delhi: Hundreds of riot-hit families sheltered at an Eidgah in Mustafabad in Northeast Delhi are regularly urged to wash their hands and maintain cleanliness. Volunteers provide medicines and sanitisers and health experts counselling. Already battling mental trauma following the deadly communal riots, the families are now faced with another challenge: the threat of novel coronavirus.

The volunteers and health professionals don't say the word "coronavirus" for fear of stoking panic among the people at the camp who include a large number of children. A lot of people have been complaining about cough, cold, vomiting and fever, said Laik Ahmad, from Doctors' Unity Welfare Association, which has set up a free health camp at the Eidgah.

"Besides medicines, we have been asking them to use masks and wash their hands. But we don't take the name 'coronavirus'. It may create panic among people who have already been going through a lot," Ahmad, 43, said. Doctors and volunteers said all steps were being taken to keep the compound clean but maintaining hygiene with so many people is a challenge.

There are only a few mobile toilets, which has put the elderly, women and children to a lot of trouble. Members of healthcare teams said representatives of various organisations have been visiting the camp and there is a need for everyone to take proper precautions.