"I'd rather die from disease than hunger" India's homeless left stranded under coronavirus lockdown

Описание: In a densely packed neighbourhood of Delhi, India, hundreds of homeless people lined up for food during a nationwide lockdown, with only a handful of people wearing masks, no social distancing, and without wash stations or hand sanitizer in sight.

"We are afraid, but what to do? It is a question of feeding ourselves that is why we are standing so close to each other," said Shiv Kumar. He added that if he stood apart to maintain social distance, then someone else might skip the line.

Most of the estimated 4 million-plus homeless people in India have had no way of earning a living since the lockdown began on March 25. With streets deserted, even begging is not an option.

"I would rather die from disease than hunger," said one homeless person, among dozens of others standing at a pavement close to a homeless shelter in Delhi.

While the mass exodus of India's migrant workers has made headlines, with thousands forced to walk miles to reach home since the lockdown began, many aid workers say the millions of homeless in India face a bigger risk.

While some cities like Delhi and Chennai have several homeless shelters, in other parts of the country, like Mumbai, many are stranded on the streets, rights groups say.

Some states are now scrambling to put the homeless in tents in parks, or at schools and other vacant spaces.

India has reported more than 1,500 cases and 38 deaths from the outbreak.

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