COVID-19: Twitter donates $15 mn to NGOs for relief work in India

US-based microblogging major Twitter has donated USD 15 million to help address the second wave of COVID-19 crisis in India. The amount has been donated to three non-governmental organisations – Care, Aid India and Sewa International USA, Twitter CEO Jack Patrick Dorsey tweeted on Monday.

While CARE has been given USD 10 million, Aid India and Sewa International USA have received USD 2.5 million each.

“Sewa International is a Hindu faith-based, humanitarian, non-profit service organisation. This grant will support the procurement of life-saving equipment such as oxygen concentrators, ventilators, BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) and CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines as part of Sewa International’s ‘Help India Defeat COVID-19’ campaign,” the San Francisco-based company said in a statement. “Equipment will be distributed to government hospitals and COVID-19 care centers and hospitals,” it added.

CARE is a leading humanitarian organisation fighting global poverty. Twitter said the grant of USD 10 million will support CARE’s urgent action to help address the deadly second wave of COVID-19 infections devastating India. “Funds will be used to supplement government efforts by setting up temporary COVID-19 care centers; providing oxygen, PPE kits and other critically needed emergency supplies for frontline health workers; and addressing vaccine hesitancy and helping ensure that people get vaccinated, particularly in remote, marginalised communities in India,” it said.

Association for India’s Development (AID) is a volunteer movement promoting sustainable, equitable and just development. AID partners with grassroots organisations in India on interconnected areas of education, health, agriculture, livelihoods, environment, and human rights, Twitter said. “This grant will help under-resourced communities identify COVID symptoms, prevent spread, access care and treatment, benefit from medical equipment including oxygen, oximeters, thermometers, protective gear and vaccination, survive lockdowns, regain livelihoods and will strengthen hospitals and NGOs that serve rural and low-income communities,” Twitter added.