The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Angus volunteer’s refugee aid appeal
An Angus call for Syrian aid has been intensified after the dedicated local co-ordinator learned of the role refugees are playing in the rebuilding of shattered Beirut.
For the past se veral years, former nurse Irene Gillies has supported the work of Edinburgh Direct Aid with regular collections of clothing and other vital supplies which are sent to a refugee community in the small Lebanese town of Arsal.
The largest collection yet of Angus aid was sent off just before UK lockdown and Irene is now pinning her hopes on a similar response after learning of what has been branded the “evil conjunction” of hyperinflation and Covid-19 alongside Lebanon’s work to repair its capital fo l low ing Augus t ’s devastating harbour explosion.
The ammonium nitrate blast at the city’s port killed more than 200 people and left an estimated 300,000 people homeless.
Irene said: “Edinburgh Direct Aid is working to try to help those in the city of Beirut and some of the refugees who were in the camp have been sent there to carry out work such as replacing hundreds of windows in buildings affected by the explosion.
“The charity provides them with accommodation and food down there and, despite their own situation, they are doing very good work to try and help rebuild Beirut.”
With winter looming in the Arsal camp for those who fled the civil war in their neighbouring country, conditions in the barren mountain community are about to become extremely challenging.
Irene added: “We will be running our collections on November 4 and 5 from 10am to 6pm and then November 6 from 10am to 1pm.
“The coronav irus situation has changed things a little for us and we will be taking donations at the Mechanics Hall in Brechin and not the usual location of the cathedral.
“We would ask that they tie them up securely in black bags so there is the minimum of handling required, and we will then send them to Edinburgh where all the donations will be sorted out.
“We are looking for the usual warm clothes for all ages, boots, shoes and wellingtons , but no downies or blankets.
“Toiletries including ladies’ sanitary items, incontinence pads and toilet rolls are also wanted, as well as, jotters, pencils, rubbers, geometry equipment, children’ s books and soft toys.”