ISWAN announced launch of a charity crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for developing world seafarers and their families that have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
All funds raised will go to UK-based crew welfare charity ISWAN, and dispersed through ISWAN’s Seafarers Emergency Fund (SEF), in order to support seafarers from the poorer regions of the world.
The COVID-19 outbreak has brought a real challenge for those seafarers, for instance:
- Many are in lockdown with casual contracts and unable to work;
- Others are facing difficulties due to lockdowns when they leave ships and are unable to return to their families with costs and little income coming in;
- There are even some reports of seafarers being shunned on their return to their homes for fears of the virus;
- There is also the issue of their families not having income in order to get by.
In a public statement last month, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim stated:
…We must also remember the hundreds of thousands of seafarers on ships. They are, unwittingly, on the front line of this global calamity. Their professionalism ensures that the goods we all need are delivered – safely and with minimal impact on our precious environment. These are people, usually far from home and family. Their own health and welfare is as important as that of anyone else.
As such, this campaign is an opportunity for the public, who depends on this vital industry, to show support for seafarers.
ISWAN will ringfence the donations from this campaign ensuring that 100% of all funds will be made available to developing world recipients and all administration costs will be covered by the charity.
We warmly welcome this initiative as we are receiving more and more calls from seafarers to our helpline SeafarerHelp. Many are from 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,
…says Roger Harris, Executive Director of the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network.
Meanwhile, ISWAN’s Seafarers Emergency Fund (SEF) provides immediate 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.
Other international maritime organisations also support the campaign, including World Ocean Council, the North American Marine Environment Protection Association, the Nautical Institute and the International Windship Association. Learn more on the campaign here.
