A family member looks on as several funeral pyres of patients who died of Covid-19 burn during the mass cremation at Ghazipur cremation ground in New Delhi, India.
Harrowing scenes from India have emanated across the world in the last two weeks as the country cripples under the pressure of soaring Covid-19 cases. It is hard not to feel helpless watching from home as funeral pyres burn around the clock, but there is something that we can do.
No matter the distance, news of hospitals overrun and people strapped to ventilators hours away from running out of oxygen will always be hard to swallow.
As Northern Ireland took strides toward normality in recent days, India descended deeper into catastrophe with a new sombre death toll recorded every day – as I write, it has reached over 226,118 – enough people to fill the SSE Arena in Belfast over 22 times. With the situation showing no signs of easing, it is time for the generosity of the Northern Irish people to support humanitarian aid workers in their fight to prevent thousands more deaths.
Tearfund exists to respond to disasters and tackle extreme poverty. As an international development charity, we work with local partners already on the ground in some of the most vulnerable communities around the world.
As I visited our work in Mumbai in 2007, I saw first-hand how effective our work is in empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty and to support their families. But I also saw just how densely populated urban areas were, and I imagine now how difficult it must be for people to practice social distancing. Many do not have access to clean water, and still others rely on day wages and cannot afford to stay at home.
My colleague, Prince David, who leads our work in India, told me people were in despair. ‘Every time I pick up my phone, I am very fearful,’ he said. ‘Since nine o’clock this morning, I have answered my phone three times to hear that another of my friends has died.’
For this reason, we are supporting the extended DEC Coronavirus appeal for India. Alongside Concern, Save the Children and the Red Cross in Northern Ireland, we have joined with 14 global aid agencies to provide PPE, medical supplies, hygiene kits, food and care packages and logistical support for local families.
Covid-19 is a crisis for everyone, not just for India and the country remains in desperate need of support. The people of Northern Ireland react best in times of crisis and India is crying out for help now.
Together with local teams and partners, our workers are supporting in a way that we can’t achieve from home, but what we can do from here is donate. With the support of the people of Northern Ireland, charities can do even more to pull families out of what is currently a life-or-death situation.
To donate to the DEC Coronavirus appeal visit www.dec.org.uk, phone 0370 60 60 900 or text SUPPORT to 70150 to donate £10.