(Hong Kong, 25 March 2022) Since the start of the 5th wave of pandemic, Hong Kong has recorded over 6,000 deaths. While many people have lost their loved ones, pandemic restrictions imposed have greatly disrupted grieving rituals and after-death arrangements, putting bereaved families in an emotional ordeal. The scenes of overflowing morgues, not only adding to the shock and pain to the bereaved families, but also aroused public concern and sadness across the city. In collaboration with NGO Forget Thee Not, the Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) launched the "Love in the Air" project in mid-March, providing psychological support and practical information to families going through sudden bereavement. In such a difficult time, both organizations aim to preserve dignity for deceased individuals, provide timely and appropriate support to grieving families and bring hope, humanity and solidarity to the Hong Kong society.

"Families who experience loss because of COVID-19 are already overwhelmed with difficult and complex emotions. The very challenging circumstances during the pandemic even add more pain and suffering, as they are unable to bid a proper farewell and come to terms with their loss. That is why we offer psychological support through the "Love in the Air" project, creating a safe space for them to cope with grief. While life may not be the same again, we strive to support families to look to the future with hope and find the strength to move forward," said Dr Eliza Cheung, PhD, Clinical Psychologist cum Service-in-charge, Psychological Support Service of the HKRC.

Dr. Fan Ning, Founder and Chairman of Forget Thee Not said, "Quite some Hong Kong people have lost loved ones to the pandemic. If they cannot arrange a proper handling of the deceased, it will be a double blow for them. In view of the coffin shortage, Forget Thee Not has donated eco-friendly coffins and preservative for the deceased to some hospitals to enable proper temporary storage of the deceased. We are now working with the HKRC to provide further support to families in mourning. We hope to preserve dignity for the deceased and facilitate families to have the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones. Our team provides up-to-date information and practical advice, and assist families to organize a proper and dignified closure that they deserve to have."

Since the new service started in mid-March, our team has been receiving cases. Through the project, we have donated two eco-friendly coffins to a family whose two old family members died of COVID-19. Meanwhile, our clinical psychologist is providing mental health support to the family. We have also provided immediate assistance to some families who face difficulties in collecting bodies of their loved ones.

Hong Kong Red Cross Relief Efforts in the 5th Wave of Pandemic

Apart from "Love in the Air" project, the HKRC also provides a range of humanitarian services listed below to support those in need by provision of health and hygiene information, psychological support and relief items:

• Sets up the "Hong Kong Red Cross COVID-19 Support Hotline", a one-stop platform to provide the latest COVID-19 measures and health information, Hong Kong Red Cross and other social services information, as well as psychological support. The hotline operates from Monday to Sunday. Since its launch on 21 February, the HKRC has already received more than 9,000 calls. This hotline is fully supported by The Hongkong Bank Foundation.
• Launches "Stay with You: Supporting People in Quarantine Facilities" program to sooth the emotional needs and provide psychological support and information to those in quarantine facilities, such as quarantine centres and hotels, by distributing psychological support packages.
• Through the community and school networks, continues to distribute surgical masks and hand sanitizers to around 2,100 low-income families or families of students with physical handicap each month from February to April 2022.
• The HKRC Local Disaster Relief and Disaster Preparedness Team partnered with community organizations to distribute COVID-19 prevention supplies to frontline workers in early 2022. The Team visited Kwai Chung District and Central and Western District, distributed supplies to over 430 cleaning workers. The Team also shares the latest COVID-19 and health information with them during the distribution.
• Continues to provide "Shall We Talk" Psychological Support Service to anyone in need. The service is handled by trained volunteers and clinical psychologists.
• Shares information on COVID-19 prevention and the HKRC services to the public through the HKRC "Overcome the Pandemic Together" thematic website: www.redcross.org.hk/en/ncov2019.html, social media platforms and outreach channels.

The Hong Kong Red Cross collaborates with Forget Thee Not to launch "Love in the Air" project, providing a series of practical and emotional support to families experiencing grief and loss during the pandemic, including practical advice and information for after-death arrangement, and psychological support and consultation to individuals and families.

"The Hong Kong Red Cross COVID-19 Support Hotline" is a one-stop platform to provide health information on pandemic prevention and the latest COVID-19 measures; Hong Kong Red Cross and other social services information; and psychological support.

The HKRC distributes hygiene items and daily necessities to the most vulnerable groups with confirmed cases and people under home quarantine, including single elderly or two-elderly households, households with the only carer infected, people with disabilities or chronic/ serious illness but without other support.

The HKRC Local Disaster Relief and Disaster Preparedness Team partners with community organizations to distribute COVID-19 prevention supplies like surgical masks, hand sanitizers and goggles to frontline workers. The Team also shares the latest COVID-19 and health information with them during the distribution.

Through the community and school networks, the HKRC distributes surgical masks and hand sanitizers to around 2,100 low-income families or families of students with physical handicap each month.

About Forget Thee Not

Forget Thee Not engages the public to rethink the meaning of life through education, advocacy and practical implementation of plans to ensure the best possible transition.

Forget Thee Not provides and advocates for funeral practices that combine traditions and green values, the philosophy of traditional funeral and life wisdom. The Customized Green Funeral extends the values of conservation and sustainability to the last journey of life, contributing to the natural environment and future generations. We recognize the greatest importance of a farewell ritual, helping the bereaved relieve their grief.