The Quilter Foundation is donating £50,000 to the international appeal launched last week by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) in response to the crisis in Afghanistan.
The DEC is a charity made up of 15 UK aid charities, specialising in humanitarian aid and disaster response. This latest appeal aims to help the eight million people in Afghanistan who are at risk of famine this winter. The appeal highlights how 95% of people in Afghanistan do not have enough to eat. DEC reported that over three million children under five are expected to suffer acute malnutrition by March 2022, with many at risk of dying because of it.
The donation will help people living in Afghanistan experiencing freezing temperatures this winter with equipment and shelter to protect them from the cold. The lowest temperature in Afghanistan this winter is predicted to be -12 degrees Celsius.
As always, the funds will be distributed only to the DEC’s member charities and carefully vetted and monitored partners working on the ground.
In addition, as part of its Christmas appeal, Quilter has also raised £10,000 for causes that support young people local to its office locations. The charities were nominated by Quilter employees and include UK children’s charity, Honeypot; the social mobility charity, upReach and the Scottish children’s charity, Children 1st, amongst others.
Paul Feeney, CEO of Quilter and chair of the Quilter Foundation, said:
“The situation in Afghanistan is truly devastating. As is so often the case it is children and young people who are impacted the most and they are ones who have the least understanding of what is happening. A million children under five years old are at risk of dying in the next three months as Afghanistan heads for a catastrophic winter. Our donation could provide emergency food for 500 families who have lost their homes for three months.
“This is the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth, and I’m pleased that the Quilter Foundation is able to support this appeal from the Disasters Emergency Committee and assist those who need it most.
“I’m also proud of our employees for raising vital funds for the Quilter Foundation this Christmas to support a number of excellent local charities that will help put food on the table, support future prospects and provide respite to families and children dealing with terminal illness.”
