The pandemic's second wave in India has touched all of us across Alvarez & Marsal (A&M). Our colleagues, clients and friends in India have been directly impacted, with many who have had and/or are recovering from COVID-19. Many have already lost family members and the images we've seen in the media tell a story of despair and a call for help. Many of us with a connection to India are facing decisions to limit work so we can care for those we love suffering from COVID-19 - either in person by taking leave on compassionate grounds, or helping friends and family remotely for those of us living outside India. As we all by now know, this is not an India issue - it is a global issue. India's need is urgent and the time to act is now. Please join us to help India recover by donating today.

On behalf of the A&M Europe Managing Directors:

Dhruv Sarda, Bob Rajan, Amit Laud and Diva Gawander

India is at the epicentre of the global pandemic. Over half of the worlds cases of COVID-19 are in India right now, with the numbers of new daily cases consistently over the 400,000 mark. 1 in 4 of the worlds COVID-19 deaths are occurring in India, with the number likely to be much higher than those recorded.

Hospitals have stopped admitting patients because they are running low on vital supplies and equipment including oxygen, leaving people helpless as they watch their loved ones die on stretchers outside the hospital doors.

Having consulted with the Indian and UK governments, our Advisors and programme partners in India, we have outlined a package of support that will complement what industry, government and other charities are doing to help.

The biggest difference we can make right now is to get as many oxygen concentrators to hospitals as quickly as possible. Oxygen concentrators are alternate devices to oxygen cylinders while cylinders contain a finite amount of oxygen supply, a concentrator continually recycles oxygen from the air and delivers it to the patient. Our local partner Swasth is providing a comprehensive end-to-end process of identifying where the greatest need is, sourcing the equipment and transporting it safely to its destination.

The £3m raised so far will fund 4,835 oxygen concentrators, which will help save tens of thousands of lives during the pandemic and millions more lives for years to come.

Our partner Swasth has already deployed concentrators in 13 states across India. Delhis hospitals have been the hardest hit, so 30% have been located to the nations capital. Rural clinics and hard to reach communities in Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and other states are also receiving these life-saving devices, which can be the difference between life and death when a hospital is hours away.

Your donation will go directly towards funding our Oxygen for India Emergency Appeal, helping those who require oxygen treatment or emergency support during the current wave of the pandemic in India. If we raise more funds than are needed by our partners for this appeal, the funds will be used for our vital work to help the poorest people in South Asia rebuild their lives following the pandemic.

Thank you again for your support. As we emerge from the worst of the pandemic here in the UK, we continue to think and pray for those in India in the midst of its darkest days.