A north-east charity that works to protect children from human trafficking is appealing for donations.
Stella’s Voice is encouraging those who can to help put food on the table at their children’s homes and orphanages in Moldova to step forward as supplies are running low due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
European director of Stella’s Voice, Mark Morgan, said the charity has been “hit from every possible angle” with their income “dropping off a cliff”.
He said: “Everyone’s feeling the pinch and there’s no playbook as such on how to deal with this situation.
“We’ve applied for government grants that will see us through if we get them but our biggest concern is getting food on the tables at our homes in Moldova as supplies are getting low.”
Mr Morgan said that fear about the virus spreading in Moldova is “heightened” as the country’s health system is “already struggling.”
He said: “The roads in Moldova are a shambles at best and our orphanage is 90km away from the capital.
“It’d be almost impossible for an ambulance to take someone to hospital. Our staff on the ground over there are doing what they can to keep the children safe.”
Many people in Moldova also don’t have access to safe drinking water.
Donations are currently the charities “lifeline” and can be made at stellasvoice.org.uk.
