Rapid humanitarian response to impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on Older Persons, People with Disabilities, and Venezuelan Caminantes, returnees and homeless in La Guajira, North Santander and Santander, Colombia The project is designed to provide essential goods and services to 6850 critically vulnerable persons (Older Persons, People with Disabilities, and Venezuelan Caminantes, returnees and homeless) who are assessed as highly  susceptible to the COVID-19 and its social and economic impacts. The project will be implemented within 3 Departments of Colombia (La Guajira, North Santander and Santander) at a critical time of the expected peak of the virus in the country. Specifically, the Consortium of HelpAge, HI and SI will seek to conduct the following:
 
La Guajira:
HelpAge and HI will target the specifically vulnerable populations of Older People,  Persons with Disabilities and Care Workers, who are assessed as the most at risk populations in La Guajira in regards to  the risk of contracting the virus, the health risks of the having the virus, and the related social and economic impacts. To do so, HelpAge will carry out preventive Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures (e.g. Hygiene Kit distribution of sanitizers, soap, protective gear, etc.);  provide water and water storage tanks to families within the informal settlements that have older people or  persons with disabilities; provide awareness sessions for local implementing staff, carers, community leaders and public in general on how to prevent and assist these at-risk population during the COVID-19 humanitarian response;  conduct a public health campaign with relevant, friendly and accessible material to guarantee that these populations are informed about the risks and how to be safe; and support the Mental and Psychosocial Health of this target population at this critical time. Finally, unconditional and unrestricted cash transfers will be implemented through the local banking network to migrants and members of host communities at risk (older people, families with a person with disabilities, people with chronic illness). This cash should enable 80 of the most at-risk households to cover their basic needs for 2 months while access to work is reduced and the cost of the household basket has increased. 

North Santander and Santander:
SI intends to provide basic food security and/or hygiene materials in North Santander and Santander, for highly vulnerable Venezuelans in Bucaramanga, Pamplona and on the migrant route to the Venezuelan border. To do so, SI will provide food security to homeless or evicted persons who are currently placed in emergency COVID-19 refuges (750 individuals); provide essential food and hygiene items to highly vulnerable households in Pamplona and Bucaramanga who have been assessed as specifically impacted by the health, social or economic impacts of the crisis (800 households); and provide mobile food and hygiene items to families starting the long return journey to the Venezuelan border (320 families). This is in response to the assessed critical needs in key areas within the department, and that providing these in-kind items will fill these critical needs for at least 1 month (for the Venezuelans and Colombians individuals and households) and at least 48 hours for the Venezuelan returnees, especially because of the significant obstacles in affordability and access due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

The Consortium will mitigate harm and loss by ensuring strong initial assessments and targeting, specific and rationalistic designs of the planned activities, clear alignment to both international and national guidelines and policies (e.g., Sphere Standards, Government guidelines on COVID-19 protocols), and adherence to internal Standard Operating Procedures and policies (e.g. Security Protocols, use of PPE, distribution guidelines).