SMS to help Somalia's starving

Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:59 Written by Ragel Nel

While many people are so touched by news of natural disasters, global atrocities and tragedies that they are overcome by a genuine desire to help, they often don’t know how to contribute.

Thanks to Vodacom, donating to a charitable cause has now become as easy as sending an SMS. The cellular operator has set up a special relief fund in aid of the famine-ravaged African country Somalia.

Vodacom customers will be able to send donations of up to R200 in multiples of R5 via the SMS line 38207.To ensure that 100% of the donations are handed over to the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS) for the relief effort in support of Somalia, the operator has agreed to waive any charges associated with the use of SMS.

Vodacom has also pledged to match the amount that customers donate to its Relief for Somalia fund. The donations will be used to purchase food, hygiene packs and water purification tablets for distribution among the Somali people.

“We are deeply disturbed by the situation in Somalia and we think that our customers are too,” says Mthobi Tyamzashe, Executive Director for CSI at Vodacom. “South Africans are eager to contribute towards this cause and it made sense to create a platform that will make it easy for them to pledge their support.”

According to the UN, around a third of Somalia’s population, which is more than 3.7 million people, are on the brink of starvation and in desperate need of food and water relief.

Mandisa Kalako Williams, the secretary general of SARCS, expresses their gratitude towards Vodacom and its consumers. “We are very pleased that Vodacom and its customers are joining our efforts to bring relief to those in Somalia. Our aim is to support the feeding programs for malnourished children and ensuring drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people is a priority for Red Cross.”

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