A CHARITY on the Welsh border has been handed a Government grant to help people living in Timbuktu.

The town in Africa is twinned with Hay-on-Wye, but coronavirus aid is needed.

The Hay2Timbuktu charity has been given a £6,500 payout from the Welsh Government's Wales Africa grant scheme to help the people of the West African state, which has recently suffered a coup.

Sandra Skinner, a trustee of Hay2Timbuktu, said: “The political and security situation in Mali has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis across the country.

"This has made life very difficult and dangerous for women and children in particular.

“This generous grant from the Welsh Government will help us continue to provide a range of materials and support services for the most vulnerable people.

"This will include health messages on local radio to explain what Covid-19 is and how to avoid the spread of the disease, as well as personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and hand sanitiser.”

Hay2Timbuktu is also partnering with local aid organisation Malian Association for the Survival in the Sahel to educate women who buy and sell in the market and help them keep themselves and their families safe.

Elmehdi ag Wakina, programme director at the organisation, said : “In Timbuktu women and children are the most represented in the informal sector in search of livelihoods as sellers of condiments, vegetables and fruit in the markets.

"They are also the ones who travel to fetch water.

"Due to the crisis situation many women have become heads of households which exposes them to being in places most likely to spread the disease”.

There have been 2,699 COVID-19 cases and 125 deaths officially reported in Mali.

Patients are being treated in tents outside hospitals in temperatures exceeding 45C, according to reports.

Hay2Timbuktu was set up as part of the twinning of Hay-on-Wye and Timbuktu.

The group's missions include promoting links between the two communities, increasing awareness in and around the Welsh town of development issues, and to encourage and support development initiatives of mutual benefit to both areas.