If COVID has taught us anything its that we are a global community, and the news coming from India breaks my heart
Today is the 6th consecutive day of over 300,000 new cases.
Hospitals have run out of beds, ventilators and oxygen.
Families have been told to organise their own oxygen, and some are being charged 900% more to get their oxygen tanks refilled.
Funeral pyres have been burning through the night, and there is fear that funeral pyres will soon have to be built on the side of the roads.
World aid has started to arrive in India with the UK haven sent over 600 pieces of vital medical equipment and neighbouring countries sending oxygen.
How can I help?
I spent some time this morning looking up humanitarian aid charities that are already operating in India, and I have chosen to donate to
If you are thinking of supporting a humanitarian aid charity, here are some tips about how to research a charity.
Check out their website and see what kind of projects they have delivered in the past, and look for a charity number.
Search for them using their charity number on the Charity Commission website, and you can check out their accounts to see what they have been doing with money donated. International charities often have been operating longer than is reflected on the Charity Commission website as they would have registered in the UK when they expanded to international work and fundraising.
Check out their social media, look to see how long they have had their pages (newly created pages can be a sign of a fake charity). Look at their recent posts to see what they have been doing and read people's comments.
If you decide on a charity, go back to their website and look at their donation page to see if it has secure payment set up with recognised card companies and PayPal. If they have registered with the Charity Commission, they are eligible for gift aid.
Feel free to share in comments the charities you are supporting who provide COVID Aid in India
— feeling heartbroken.
Fiona Martin