BDO staff donates essential goods to victims of xenophobic attacks | Marketing
After hearing about the plight of the thousands of foreign nationals displaced as a result the recent spate of xenophobic attacks across South Africa, staff members from the Durban office of BDO rallied and collected much-needed items for the victims.
To date, eight people have been killed and thousands displaced after a wave of xenophobic attacks swept across the country, beginning in the greater Durban area at the end of March.
Staff members at the Durban office of BDO – an international audit, tax and advisory firm - initiated the drive to collect a variety of essentials including food, toiletries, towels and winter clothing for the 7 000 refugees being supported by the Red Cross.
“The stories coming through about the suffering of our fellow Africans prompted us all into action,” said Sumesh Somaroo, Partner at BDO, Durban. “Everybody came together amazingly and we managed to collect an impressive amount of things in a short space of time that we donated to the Red Cross on 22 April.”
The Fundraising Manager at Red Cross in Durban North, Nirupa Kasserchun, said the contribution was greatly welcomed by the organisation and would go a long way to helping those in need.
“All the donated items were received at our provincial office in Durban North. They were collated at this office and then distributed to the three refugee camps in Phoenix, Chatsworth and Isipingo,” said Kasserchun, adding that distribution was based on camp needs and numbers.
Red Cross has been providing the victims in the refugee camps with food relief as well as psychosocial support.
She said the camp at Phoenix closed on Tuesday as a number of foreign nationals had already been repatriated while the remaining members have been moved to the Isipingo site.
Commenting on the donation, Kasserchun offered a huge vote of thanks to BDO for “serving humanity”.
“The commitment and support shown by BDO helped Red Cross provide for the immediate basic survival needs of displaced persons affected by xenophobia.
“Public support has been enormous, not just from a donation point of view but also volunteering. People stopped their daily lives and came to support. The support has been so amazing.”
