Policies & Issues

WFDB Launches Campaign to Support India Amid COVID Crisis

Policies & IssuesApr 30, 2021

WFDB Launches Campaign to Support India Amid COVID Crisis

The “Diamond Aid” campaign calls on the industry to provide aid to India.

20210430_Diamond Aid.jpg
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses is raising money to help India as it fights a crippling rise in COVID-19 cases.
Antwerp, Belgium—The World Federation of Diamond Bourses is raising money to help India fight the deadly surge in COVID-19 cases that is crippling the country.

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, the country’s healthcare system struggles to care for its people.

India counted a record 379,257 new cases on Thursday and a death toll of 3,645, as per its health ministry.

The U.S. Embassy issued an alert to say access to healthcare has become extremely limited, and that U.S. citizens wanting to depart India should look into doing so.

The WFDB Executive Committee recently held an emergency session over Zoom to set up the Diamond Aid campaign.

The group will coordinate with the leadership of the Bharat Diamond Bourse in India to use the funds raised to purchase the essential medications and equipment needed by hospitals in Surat and Mumbai.

With hospitals facing an overwhelming number of patients, oxygen has been especially scarce.

Diamond Aid will reach out to industry leaders, the press, its online audience, and social media followers to request assistance and donations.

“The international diamond and jewelry industry is a close-knit community, actually a family, made up of members from around the globe, many of whom live or originate in India. As members of this family, we cannot stand by without helping,” said WFDB President Yoram Dvash in a press release about the campaign.

“The WFDB has decided to take the lead in helping our Indian brothers. We call upon the generosity of our industry to help the people of India through this devastating time.”

For more information about the campaign or to donate, visit the WFDB website.

Lenore Fedowis the senior editor, news at National Jeweler, covering the retail beat and the business side of jewelry.

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