26 March

Together Volunteer Team (TVT), which is formed with the local youth from Mandalay, is providing free delivery service to Mandalay residents who are now difficult to buy the staple foods such as rice, oil, salt, dried goods, and medicines, on account of the recent outbreak of Covid-19, according to TVT.

TVT volunteer Ko Aye Chan Ko Ko said, “TVT will buy the ordered items and deliver them free starting from 24 March. Our team is volunteering this to avoid panic buying after the Ministry of Health and Sports has made an announcement on 23 March midnight that two Covid-19 positive patients were found in Myanmar. Also, the team is providing its services to those who are difficult to go outside and buy the foodstuff and medicines in this situation because they are elderly and sick.”

“We heard that people are panic-buying at the supermarkets in the Yangon region after authorities announced that the Covid-19 was found in Tiddim and Yangon the day before yesterday. So, the supermarkets are running out of stock. If Mandalay would face the same situation, there would be difficulties for those who are elderly and sick. In this case, our team will buy the foodstuff they need to order and send them to their home with free delivery. We will give priority to those who are really difficult to go outside. We assume that those who contact us through phone or Internet are really difficult to go outside. We don’t own private cars because we are freshly graduated youths. We have to carry those ordered items by our motorbikes as much as we can,” he added.

The team started to operate with six members. On the first day of their operation, ten people ordered to send rice, oil, salt, medicines, and masks. At present, nearly 100 people have requested to join us in our team.

“I found this TVT team on social Website and have ordered to buy rice, oil, and liquid soap for us. I am the only one in my house because my husband has gone on a business trip. So, I like to thank them. I have to pay the money as written in the voucher and there is no need to pay other charges. I really appreciate them,” said Daw Wah Wah from Chanmyathazi Township, who orders the items to TVT via phone. —Min Htet Aung (Man Sub-printing house)  (Translated by Hay Mar)