The government needs to mobilize just over 5.6 billion meticais to pay subsidies to households that have lost their sources of income due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The information is in the balance of implementation of basic social security programs for 2021, implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action (MGCAS). The document states that the Sector Plan of Response to Covid-19 planned to assist 1,695,004 families in situations of poverty and vulnerability due to the pandemic, and of these, 1,102,825 are new beneficiaries and 592,179 from the other assistance programs.

Of the borrowers, only 217,543 have received the full amount, and 352,476 have paid the equivalent of two installments. There are, however, 356,188 households that have not yet received any installments.

"Although constraints on subsidy payments persist, the sector's assistance has contributed to the promotion of gender equality and the consolidation of support programs for the most needy people and the strengthening of respect for the rights of the most vulnerable groups, in a scenario where Covid-19 was spreading considerably," the document highlights.