Irina Tsvetaeva, representing the association of retirement parents caring for their children with disabilities, created a petition addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking him to help families with disabilities during coronavirus pandemic.
According to Irina, in Russia today there are 11,188,216 people with disabilities. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many families with disabilities were in a difficult situation, as they lost their jobs and did not receive any help, most families with disabilities were burdened with loans, there were no credit deferrals for such families, and utility costs increased by 1.5- 2 times and payment required in full.
Irina also points out that grocery delivery and other services to families with disabilities are not provided. they don’t receive medical assistance in many localities, as medical institutions either accept COVID-19 patients or are closed, it is difficult for them to buy the necessary medicines, pharmacies lack remedies, a large number of disabled people were left without sanatorium treatment and rehabilitation.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that people are allowed to leave their homes only to the nearest shops and socially unprotected families are forced to buy food at high prices. Moreover, volunteer delivery services are organized for senior citizens, but are not intended for disabled people. Many people with disabilities are forced to keep family members who have been unemployed on their pensions.