Self Help Africa is teaming up with five other leading Irish overseas aid charities to support some of the world’s poorest communities to respond to the worsening coronavirus pandemic.

The six members of the newly formed Irish Emergency Alliance will jointly raise money from the Irish public and respond in countries facing rising coronavirus cases and already struggling to cope with the impact of conflict and displacement as well as widespread poverty, increased rates of hunger and poor health care.

The coronavirus appeal will focus on vulnerable communities in two of Self Help Africa’s core programme countries – Kenya and Ethiopia – as well as in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon, and at the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Money raised by the Irish Emergency Alliance’s coronavirus appeal will go towards food, water and medical care as well as providing soap, masks and vital information to prevent the spread of the virus.

Self Help Africa has joined forces with ActionAid, Christian Aid, Plan International, Tearfund and World Vision in this initiative.

Executive Director David Dalton, who is a board member of the Irish Emergency Allinace said: “We have all seen the devastating impact of the coronavirus crisis in Ireland. The situation is even more critical in countries with weak healthcare systems, poor tracing, and a limited ability to cope. The economic fallout of this pandemic is also huge in countries of the developing world.”

Please donate at www.irishemergencyalliance.org or by calling 1 800 939 979 or by texting IEA to 50300 to give €4.