A RAMSEY based company has raised more than £3,000 in response to the severe drought in the Horn of Africa.

AFD Software Ltd invited staff to make personal donations to the Christian Aid appeal and promised to match donations pound for pound.

Within a week employees had donated £1,550 which AFD doubled to £3,100.

David Dorricott, AFD director, said: "Alison, my wife and fellow director, came up with the idea of inviting the staff to respond – the results were very encouraging.

"We simply gave a few examples copied from a Christian Aid appeal letter of how effective gifts could be, then offered to match every staff gift."

Drought and displacement, combined with rising food prices, have left parts of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya in need of urgent humanitarian support.

The United Nations has declared famine conditions in areas of southern Somalia and refugees are fleeing the country at a rate of 3,000 per day.

The money raised by AFD will be enough to fund the rehabilitation of over 20 boreholes and provide 40 200 litre plastic tanks – giving clean water to 22,000 people.

Phil Craine, area officer for Christian Aid on the Island, said: "This substantial gift will surely save many lives in one of the poorest and most desperate regions of the world. 

"AFD is a remarkable example of employer and staff working together and I hope it encourages other firms to do the same."

For more information contact Phil on 01624 672224 or at pcraine@christian-aid.org

To donate to the Christian Aid East Africa appeal click here.

Also see: Island sends £50,000 to humanitarian emergency in Horn of Africa