Council donates £20k to coronavirus emergency fund
REFUGEES in some of the most impoverished parts of the world who are exposed to the threat of coronavirus are being supported by a £20,000 donation from Inverclyde Council.
Councillors on the policy and resources executive committee unanimously backed a request from charity Oxfam Scotland to support an international relief effort coordinated by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
It was agreed that the council will contribute £20,000 to the appeal.
Inverclyde Council has now donated £100k to Oxfam and the DEC since 2014.
The request for support was made in a letter to local authority leader Stephen McCabe, who put it to elected members at a meeting yesterday.
Cllr McCabe, who chairs the P&R exec committee, said: “We unfortunately know all too well here in Inverclyde the tragic consequences of this deadly virus and the wider impact it has on communities.
“I’m pleased therefore that my fellow councillors have considered the request from Oxfam Scotland on behalf of the DEC and decided to contribute to their emergency appeal to help protect the poorest and most vulnerable communities living in refugee and internal displacement camps in some of the world’s most fragile places.
“Inverclyde has a proud reputation as a caring and compassionate place and this donation reinforces that.”
The DEC Scotland launched an urgent appeal on 14 July to help protect the poorest and most vulnerable communities living in refugee and internal displacement camps in places like Yemen, Syria, Somalia, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, as the COVID-19 pandemic hits.
Donations will be used to provide families with clean water, soap and safety information, frontline medical and aid workers with equipment and supplies to care for the vulnerable and sick and ensure that families get enough food to prevent malnutrition.
The DEC is seeking support for the appeal from councils across Scotland by means of financial donation and support for promotional activities.
The Scottish Government has also released £240k from its Humanitarian Emergency Fund to support charities responding to this crisis and the UK Government has promised to match fund all donations up to £10 million.
Donations can be made online at www.dec.org.uk, via the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 610 or by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000 to donate £5.