INVERCLYDE Council is giving £10,000 to help people suffering in the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

The decision was taken at a specially arranged session of the local authority’s policy and resources executive sub-committee.

Council leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, who chaired the meeting, said the donation was agreed unanimously.

He said: “The council has supported several humanitarian appeals, and it is right that we are able to do so again.

“We have regularly opened our arms and our hearts to people in crisis.

“Budgets are always going to be tight for public organisations and for all of us as individual citizens.

“It is not an easy decision to give money to support people we haven’t met, and a crisis that we may not hear about every day on the news.

“Our councillors on the sub-committee recognised that what people are going through in this region is appalling hardship - and we cannot stand by and do nothing.”

The money will go to the Oxfam and the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.

Mr McCabe today urged the people of Inverclyde to back the disaster appeal.

He said: “I would encourage more people from across our area to support the appeal and give what you can.

“You will be helping people who are suffering today.

“A donation of £30 could provide emergency shelter for one family, while £100 could feed two families for a month.

“By doing so you will take a vital step in helping the many thousands of Rohingya people who have fled from violence in Myanmar.”

Donations can be made online by visiting www.dec.org.uk