Google has announced a new donation-matching campaign that intends to raise $11m to support refugees and migrants flooding into Europe from war torn countries.
The company unveiled the donation drive on its blog. Instead of having an executive make the announcement, Rita Masoud, a Google employee who fled Kabul with her family when she was seven years old, wrote about her personal experience while unveiling the campaign
Masoud said: "When I was seven, my family and I fled to Europe with our belongings in a single suitcase, hoping for a safer and better future. Our journey involved many dark train and bus rides, as well as hunger, thirst, cold and fear.
Masoud’s family received asylum in the Netherlands and she is currently working for Google in California.
"I was lucky. But as the refugee and migrant crisis has grown, many people like my family are desperate for help," Masoud said.
The donations made to Google will go to four nonprofit organisations that are offering aid to refugees and migrants.
Google said it will match the initial $5.5m worth of donations globally at google.com/refugeerelief until it raises $11m.
The refugee and migrant crisis in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa is claimed to be the world’s largest since the Second World War.
Google said it will cover all processing fees so that 100% of donations go to where it is required most.
