FISNIK MUÇA, Ph.D. in Political Sciences, Administrative clerk at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of North Macedonia, fisnik.muca@hotmail.com
XHEMAIL ÇUPI, Ph.D. in Political Sciences, Lecturer at UBT, Prishtina, Kosovo, email: xhemail.cupi@ubt-uni.net
NASUF STRIKÇANI, MSc in Sociology, Religious lecturer at the Islamic Religious Community - Myftini of IRC - Debar, email: nasuf.strikcani@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT: The economic and financial crisis caused by COVID-19 has affected almost every country in the world. In Debar, the first cases of those infected with the virus began to appear in early March 2020. After the first victims' registration, the city entered in total isolation and lockdown, including establishing an artificial border with other North Macedonia cities. The negative consequences of isolation began to be felt even more with migrants' absence due to restrictive measures imposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the technical government's virus prevention policies. Through this research paper, we want to emphasize the role and contribution of the Diaspora of Debar during the period of isolation and after it, which were in the form of public donations, initially distributed by the Emergency Office at the Municipality of Debar, in cooperation with non-governmental associations and religious communities. Public donations are in a database, where the exact amount of money donated and their distribution are known. To accomplish this study, we interviewed competent persons, especially the mayor of Debar, who was also the head of the Emergency Office and the Dibra Community Organization president in the USA, as one of the most active diaspora associations of Debar. There will also be a focus group with people who have been involved throughout this period, where we will know their attitude about the management of public donations and their destination; and the impact of these donations on the overall social welfare and standard of living.
KEYWORDS: Diaspora; COVID-19, Public donations, Social welfare; Standard of living.
Donwload here: Diaspora and public donations during COVID-19 - SEEJSD.pdf (720962)
or SEEJSD-3-pa-content.pdf (unt.edu.mk)
pp. 58-65