As India surpasses the 300,000 deaths linked to Covid-19, the country with the highest death toll just behind the US and Brazil, the organisation Indians in London (Not-for-profit Company no 09929754) has raised £40,514 in three weeks.

So far, they have sent 20 units of oxygen concentrator to Red Cross in Delhi and 20 to NGOs in rural areas of different states of India, such as Karnataka, Goa, Manipur, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Before the pandemic, the aim of the group was to connect and support Indian migrants in the British capital. Their community group on Facebook has more than 32,000 members, first generation Indians living in the UK.

Minal Jaiswal, co-founder and director of Indians in London, said:

“We used to do a lot of social cultural events to keep our country’s culture alive, organising our cultural festivals. We supported each other with immigration issues and a policy, finances, where to find good schools or good food… It’s an expat forum.

“But in the second wave of Covid in India, most of us have lost loved ones, either friends or distant relatives. Others have lost multiple family members. There are a lot of Covid-19 widows and orphans. We are still sourcing more medicines and supplies.

“Last year we stood with the UK, opening food banks via Gurudwaras, temples and mosques to support the most vulnerable and those in need. We appeal now to the UK to stand with India in this time of crisis in our motherland. You can scan this QR code to donate.”

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