Expressing its commitment towards social responsibility, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) has launched an initiative to help the people living in the Horn of Africa where the UN has declared a famine. Almost 13 million people are threatened by starvation in this region and the humanitarian problem is made worse by ongoing conflicts.

The AWDC has expressed support to the Belgian Consortium for Emergency Relief, 1212 (www.1212.be). It invites its clients to increase the amount on their invoice with 5 euro. It will transfer every 5 euro to the Belgian Consortium 1212 and pledges that if collections exceed 2500€ by the end of September 2011, it will contribute another 2500€.

Ari Epstein, CEO of the AWDC explains: “Our organization wants to help the people living in the Horn of Africa by raising money for the Consortium 1212. To my mind, it is opportune that the diamond community shows that diamonds also have a heart.”

The AWDC also opened a special bank account IBAN BE51 731-0196318-62 “AWDC - Action 1212”for diamond companies intending to donate.