A crowdfunding campaign to support developing word seafarers and their families impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic is ongoing
All funds raised in the month-long campaign will go to the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), a UK-registered charity, and dispersed through their Seafarers Emergency Fund (SEF).
Their membership includes seafarer associations throughout the developing world alongside shipping companies and shipping organisations.
Many seafarers from the developing world are in lockdown with casual contracts and unable to work while others face difficulties due to lockdowns when they leave ships and are unable to return to their families because of the disparities between the cost of travel and income.
ISWAN’s Executive Director, Roger Harris said “We warmly welcome this initiative as we are receiving more and more calls from seafarers to our helpline SeafarerHelp. Many are Filipino and Indian seafarers whose lives are being adversely affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. The funds raised will be used to assist seafarers and their families who are facing hardship because of the pandemic.”
ISWAN said it will ringfence the donations from this campaign ensuring that all funds raised will be made available to developing world recipients and all administration costs will be covered by the charity.
ISWAN’s Seafarers Emergency Fund (SEF) is available to provide immediate, essential aid to seafarers and families of seafarers who are directly involved in sudden or unforeseen crises, to cover expenses such as psychological counselling, medical bills, repatriation and other unexpected costs.
The campaign comes at a time when IMO has called for seafarers to be recognised as essential workers.
The campaign is supported by international maritime organisations including; ISWAN, World Ocean Council, the North American Marine Environment Protection Association, the Nautical Institute and the International Windship Association.
Donations can be made here.
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