International development agency Concern Worldwide has praised its support group in Fermanagh for contributing to its £1.7 million appeal to help the world’s hungry.

Local volunteers in Fermanagh raised £56,000 last autumn for Concern’s Food in a Fragile World appeal – which included matched funding from the UK government.

The money was raised from street collections in Enniskillen, Tempo and Lisnaskea and from church gate collections in Belcoo, Mullaghdun, Arney, Garrison, Beleek, Mulleek, Toura, Derrygonnelly, Boho and Monea. Donations were also received from the annual five mile Beechvale Walk and from pupils at St Michael’s College, Enniskillen who fasted for 24 hours.

Concern’s Fermanagh Support Group treasurer Tom Palmer said: “It is a phenomenal amount and is a tribute to our supporters and volunteers, some of whom have been collecting for Concern for more than thirty years.

“The people of Fermanagh have once again proved how generous they are, and having donations doubled was a great incentive for them to give to such a worthwhile cause.”

Across the UK, the public donated just over £850,000 which was then doubled to £1.7 million by the UK government as part of its Aid Match scheme.

The matched funding has already helped to establish a new project to tackle hunger and build sustainable sources of food in Burundi, East Africa, where more than 1.7 million people in the country do not have enough to eat and every other child under the age of five is malnourished.

Rose Caldwell, Executive Director of Concern (UK), said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone in Fermanagh who supported our appeal. It is only through the generosity of people across the UK that we are able to help ensure a brighter future for the world’s most vulnerable people.”

The project in Burundi will focus on improving the nutrition and health of 43,000 children under the age of five in one of the worst-affected areas with high levels of food insecurity.

The UK’s International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said: “Concern’s work in Burundi focuses on children who are often the most affected by malnutrition in fragile areas of the world. I would like to thank the public for their generosity in helping to raise such a life-changing sum.”

“Every donation made by the public has been matched pound for pound by the UK government, meaning we have doubled the difference that Concern can make in getting vital food, water and medicine to thousands of children in Burundi.”

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Photo caption: Concern’s Fermanagh Support Group members who helped to raise £56,000 for the charity’s Food in a Fragile World appeal last autumn.