18 NOV 2015

Auckland Event Raises $19,000 for MOAS International Refugee Rescue Foundation

MOAS, (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) the charity based in Malta that uses 40 metre rescue vessels and drones on the Mediterranean to save refugees mainly from Syria and Eritrea, benefitted from an event at St Matthew in the City in Auckland recently where $19,000 was raised.

The event was hosted by Refugee Aid NZ, a new New Zealand charity that is dedicated to raising funds for refugee crisis.

“MOAS Foundation’s commitment to dispelling the ‘globilisation of indifference’ ” and their humanitarian philosophy plus their ability to act quickly and effectively was significant for our choice of recipient of the funds,” explained Trustee for Refugee Aid NZ, Jane Ormsby.

The MOAS Foundation has been set up by US millionaire Christopher Catrambone and his family, after 400 migrants tragically drowned off the Italian island of Lampedusa.

http://www.moas.eu/

http://goo.gl/AClwoj Daily Mail Article

MOAS spokesperson Cristina Lejman said they are thrilled that New Zealanders had raised money to assist with their work. So far they have rescued over 11,000 migrants making the deadly crossing into Europe .

Auckland businessman, Mitchell Pham, a Vietnamese refugee, spoke about his escape, from Vietnamese labour camps by boat at only 12 years of age, via the Mekong River. Mitchell told his heart breaking story of being chased and shot at by coast guards, before enduring days at sea, without petrol, food or water, until eventually being picked up by a container ship and enduring years in refugee camps in Indonesia. He finally arrived in NZ without his family and founded his software company Augen which now employs 50 staff in Auckland.

“Mitchell’s story moved the people in the room and highlighted what can be done when people are given an opportunity and a hand up.” said Jane Ormsby “ and it was inspiring to see such generosity and support for the refugee crisis.”

The event was attended by over 120 guests who feasted on a Mediterranean dinner prepared by Ima’s Restaurant and Michael Meredith and generously bid on auction items including luxury holiday homes and dinners for 10.

This is the first event Refugee Aid New Zealand had organised and they intend to continue to fundraise for refugees.

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