Credit unions in Dublin will support the needs of unaccompanied minors and families by providing food, water and first medical aid as they reach Milan.

The announcement was made by the ILCU Foundation, the charitable arm of the Irish League of Credit Unions, which has committed a donation of up to €25,000 to help children who have lost parents or guardians as they arrive by rail in the Italian city.

The ILCU Foundation says it has partnered with Plan International Ireland, which has established a hub in Milano Centrale station to provide aid to the influx of migrants and refugees.

Around 1,600 emergency kits will be distributed to unaccompanied refugee minors who are fleeing from insecurity and conflict in Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan and sub-Saharan Africa.

“Ordinary people like you and I are continuing to make the treacherous passage from North Africa in search of hope and a safe place to live; we wish to restore the dignity of these people as they arrive in mainland Europe,” said ILCU Foundation general manager Alan Moore. 

“Our main focus is to provide sustainable credit unions in developing countries, but we couldn’t stand by and watch this tragedy unfold without providing some sort of support.

“We would like to thank our partner credit unions and their members for their continuous contributions to our work, for without it we would not have been able to respond to this crisis.”

The ILCU Foundation will update credit unions and their members with regard to recovery efforts on Facebook and on its official website at ilcufoundation.ie.