Western Union Supports Displaced People of the Moria Camp
Western Union and the Western Union Foundation have announced a pledge of USD 250K in relief to support the immediate and long term recovery needs of refugees including the people displaced from Greece’s Moria Camp.
More than 12,000 people have been evacuated from the Moria Camp on the island of Lesbos, which was destroyed by fires last week. “Western Union and our Foundation are unrelenting in our support of migrants, refugees and forcibly displaced people around the globe. Our hearts are with the people of the Moria camp,” said Hikmet Ersek, Western Union President and CEO.
The camp was a temporary home to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from more than 70 different countries, among them elderly, pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities. With a fire devastating their only place of refuge, thousands are now without shelter and access to water and sanitation.
The Western Union Foundation will deploy USD 100K to support the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in their immediate relief efforts for the Moria camp evacuees. Funds will support secure accommodations, mental health and psychosocial support, and distribution of urgent supplies, with a focus on safety to avoid the risk of COVID-19 transmission. An additional USD 150K in funding will support longer-term advocacy and relief efforts to enable sustainable living for refugees in Greece.
Globally, more than 70 million people were forced from home by conflict and persecution at the end of 2018, according to the UN. Among them are nearly 30 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. There are also millions of stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to fundamental rights such as education, healthcare, employment, and freedom of movement.
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