Salvation Army helps save lives in poorest communities worldwide

The Salvation Army has been hard at work not only in the UK, but also across the world, supporting tens of thousands of the most vulnerable as they deal with the health and economic effects of the global pandemic.

Nine key projects have been funded specifically by The Salvation Army in the UK and Republic of Ireland from donations made for international work. These projects are working with local Salvation Army churches and community centres in countries including Pakistan, Mexico, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Mozambique. Depending on local need and working with local and national governments, they have distributed food, PPE, hand wash and hygiene information leaflets.

Vital help given by Kenya Salvation Army churches include:

• Provided essential hand wash to 5,000 people in need
• Helped 1,400 families with hygiene advice
• Gave information on how important it is to self-isolate if someone is infected

Ben Gilbert, International Projects Team Leader for The Salvation Army in the UK and Republic of Ireland, said: “The work The Salvation Army is doing in the UK and around the world to help people whose livelihoods have been hit by the impact of coronavirus will no doubt have saved thousands of lives and continues to do so.

“While living in the UK we have easy access to healthcare and clean water, many around the world simply don’t, and so The Salvation Army’s role in helping to keep people safe is essential. We rely on people’s kind donations to ensure this work continues.”

There are also many other projects funded by the international Salvation Army to help support vulnerable people impacted by the global pandemic. As an international church and charity, The Salvation Army was already working in 131 countries worldwide, and so it was uniquely placed to use its local networks and centres to support vulnerable people in local communities during the pandemic.

For example, The Salvation Army in the Philippines is providing hygiene kits and cleaning supplies to quarantine facilities set up at requisitioned sports centres and other public buildings in and around Manila. In Northern India, The Salvation Army has been giving out food to vulnerable families, along with giving out information on coronavirus and hygiene, as well as providing hand sanitiser to people without access to clean water.

The Salvation Army in Johannesburg, South Africa, has also been providing food parcels to vulnerable individuals and families in neighbouring Lesotho. Similar work has been taking place in Peru, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Rwanda.

Donate to The Salvation Army UK with the Republic of Ireland’s international emergency response work.