‘It’s personal’: Charity founder Ike Naqvi sends food to starving in his Indian hometown

Ike Naqvi says the deaths in his Indian hometown from starvation are outweighing the COVID-19 deaths, so he has been raising funds for essential food bag delivery to those in dire need.

IKE Naqvi said the deaths in his hometown from starvation are outweighing the deaths from COVID-19 as the ongoing lockdown leaves Indian families without food for days.

The former Oxfam, Save the Children and Freedom for Hunger worker said his work for his charity Amroha International Society during the pandemic was impacting him more deeply than ever before.

Amroha International Society founder Ike Naqvi has donated money and food supplies that have been sent to starving Indian families during the COVID-19 lockdown. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

“It’s become a personal thing, because I was only there four months ago in my home town, so I can picture their faces,” he said.

“The unfortunate part about this virus is it’s the poor paying the price. They’ve got no food, they can’t get any work — it’s a really diabolical situation.”

He said his trusted volunteer contacts in India were telling him stories of families going days without food.

Feeling he “couldn’t live” with himself unless he did something to help, Mr Naqvi said he had been raising funds for essential food bag delivery to those in dire need.

Food items delivered in bags from Amroha International Society in Tasmania to Amroha in India. Picture: SUPPLIED.

He said one $10 bag of items including oil, sugar, rice and potatoes would feed one family for a week.

“People have been very generous,” he said.

To help feed the hungry in Amroha, India, visit amrohainternationalsociety.com