A PARKESTON-based world foods specialists will be contributing a consignment of food for refugees in need.

Surya Foods, which is based at Europa House in Parkeston, is donating provisions for a humanitarian aid convoy from the UK to Greece.

The convoy of five trucks will soon be heading to Thessaloniki and Lesbos thanks to charity Hope and Aid Direct.

The charity’s regional fundraiser Graham Crame, who lives in Harwich, said: “We are indebted to Surya Foods and their staff for their kindness and generosity.

“Being described as the greatest humanitarian crisis of our generation, over 57,000 refugees, mostly from Syria and Iraq, are currently stranded in camps in Greece where the temperature is currently below zero, with heavy snowfall.

“Of the total number of refugees, 38 per cent are children, some of whom are still living in tents.

“Desperate people do desperate things when we actually realise that in the year 2016 5,011 migrants drowned crossing from Turkey.

“Failing to see refugees as people, and as equals, stops our Government acting speedily to process and accept more refugees.

“Offering sanctuary to those in need of refuge is a proud British tradition – the Kindertransport via Harwich during the Second World War was a prime example.

“It is now the greatest movement of people fleeing persecution that the world has ever known.

“Some 65 million people worldwide have been displaced from their homes and we believe that you can make a difference by simply showing your fellow beings that you actually do care.”

The consignment from Surya Foods was collected on Tuesday morning and it is now making its way to Greece to be handed to those in need.