Footballers Patrick Vieira and Niall Quinn want fans to help them tackle famine. Picture: Russell Watkins/DFID
Hiiraan Online
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Premier League backed the DEC East Africa crisis appeal as it announced a weekend of action at top flight football clubs across England.
Football supporters will be able to text a number displayed on advertising boards, in match-day programmes and on players' training bibs to donate £5 to the appeal on the weekend of 26 November.
 Schoolchildren from Gillespie Primary School, Islington, London, help football legends Patrick Vieira and Niall Quinn, Chancellor George Osborne MP, and Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan MP. Picture: Russell Watkins/DFID |
 Hashim Ismail Duale BME and Alan Duncan MP, Minister of International Development: Picture by Hiiraan Online |
 Hashim Ismail Duale MBE and Niall Quinn, Sunderland Football Club: Picture by Hiiraan Online. |
At an event in Downing Street, George Osborne was joined by Patrick Vieira, Niall Quinn, Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore and Clive Jones, chair of the DEC appeal.
The Chancellor George Osborne said: "The situation in the Horn of Africa remains desperate and it is great to see the Premier League getting involved to help. "Football fans up and down the country will be able to make a difference and I wanted to do everything I could to support this idea."
Richard Scudamore, Premier League Chief Executive said:"The Premier League and its clubs have a long tradition of partnership with African football, and as a League we have many programmes that support grassroots sporting development in the continent and provide lasting legacy.
"We recognise that it is vital the DEC Unite Appeal for East Africa remains at the forefront of people’s minds. We hope our weekend of action will bring it to the attention of the millions of fans who follow the Premier League each week and that their donations can greatly extend the excellent work of the UK Government."
Clive Jones CBE, chair of DEC, said: "With 'Tackle Famine' the UK is continuing the international leadership it has shown in responding to the crisis in East Africa.
"There is a huge amount of work still to be done so we are delighted to have the Premier League, leading clubs and so many footballer stars on our side."
Alan Duncan Minister of International Development told Hiiraan Online: “We are here today to launch a wonder initiative called Tackle the famine; combine effort between Premier League and DEC. This is fantastic idea coordinated by DFID[Department For International Development]”. We also met with legend and football hero a fellow African originally from Senegal Patrick Viera and he told Hiiraan Online. “It is fantastic project that we are launching today. In 2011, people are dying because of food shortage is painful and difficult to understand. We are here to promote this project and hope the football fans donate money to this worthy project; the weekend of 26 to 28 November” Patrick; for your Somali fans wondering what you do after retiring; can you share your whereabouts? He replied “I retired last year and am with Manchester City Football Club as Football Development Executive, the biggest club in the world”.
Hiiraan Online had chance to talk to Niall Quinn, Sunderland Football Club here representing Premier League, about the event and he said: “We are offering advertising boards of all our football stadiums to DEC. This gives the publicity to one billion viewers to see the billboards because we are live 112 countries around the world. We hope the football fans donate their money to this cause. I thank you guys for sharing the event with Somali community around the globe.”
So far the British public has donated £72 million to DEC through its East Africa Crisis Appeal. The UK Government has fed 2.4 million people in the region since 1 July and is providing vaccinations to a further 2 million and clean water and sanitation to 1.2 million
Former footballer Niall Quinn, Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore, Disasters Emergency Committee Chief Executive Clive Jones, Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan MP, and former footballer Patrick Vieira: Picture: Russell Watkins/DFID
The Premier League has agreed to donate its match-day advertising space to the DEC appeal on Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th and Monday 28th November. This means the DEC appeal text number will appear in place of Premier League advertising on advertising boards, in match-day programmes and on players' training bibs. Clubs will also promote the appeal through their websites with links to DEC's appeal page. The UK Government has fed 2.4 million people in the region since July 1 and is providing vaccinations to a further 2 million and clean water and sanitation to 1.2 million. The donations will go towards helping the 13 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia who face hunger in the crisis which was brought on by drought.
Hiiraan Online UK