A street collection held on the Isle of Man for those fleeing from violence in Myanmar has already raised over ?2,300.
The collection was organised by the One World Centre after the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched an appeal earlier this month to help the half a million people at risk in the area.
The majority of those seeking help are Rohingya women and children who are in urgent need of shelter, medical care, water and food as they arrive exhausted and traumatised in overflowing camps and settlements in neighbouring Bangladesh, a country which itself is already overstretched dealing with the impact of severe flooding in many of its regions.
More than half of all new arrivals are children and one in every ten is a pregnant woman or lactating mother. Most are living in makeshift shelters made from bamboo and thin plastic.
The DEC is made up of 13 leading UK aid agencies and appeal money goes to support those member agencies and their partners that are currently working on the ground to help. Latest reports say that food is now getting to those in need but there is still much to be done.
DEC Chief Executive, Saleh Saeed, said: “This is one of the fastest movements of people we have seen in recent decades.
“Families are living in makeshift shelters or by the side of the road with no clean drinking water, toilets or washing facilities. This humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in a country that is already reeling from the worst floods in decades.
“Without urgent support, the risk of disease and further misery is alarmingly high.”
One World Centre Director Rosemary Clarke said: “I’d like to thank all those who volunteered at short notice to collect for this appeal and all those who have contributed.
“While these events are unfolding thousands of miles away, it’s clear that there are many people here who want to help others in a truly desperate situation.”
Further donations can still be made via the DEC Collection boxes in Manx Co-op stores across the Isle of Man. Alternatively you can donate directly to the DEC Emergency Appeal at www.dec.org.uk or call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 610. You can also donate ?5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.
