THE Rotary Club of Alloa is continuing international efforts to send aid to Ukraine as the conflict in eastern Europe continues in 2023.

Representatives from the Wee County were recently in Edinburgh to meet with visiting Rotarians from Italy, having joined a cluster of clubs working on funding specific projects to directly support the people of Ukraine.

Alloa Rotary Club president Alun Morgan was joined by fellow member John Allan as they met counterparts from The Rotary Club of Milano Nord to discuss how the organisations will take forward a project ensuring villages in Ukraine are not left without clean water or power.

In recent months, Russia has been targeting energy and water infrastructure in Ukraine with missile and drone strikes, including on New Year's Eve and Day.

Alun, president at Alloa Rotary, said: “The aim of this specific project, headed up by Milan, is to supply professional water purification equipment coupled with electric power generation to Ukrainian villages.

“Infrastructure continues to be the target of Russian aggression leading to many villages being without a clean water source.

“The equipment will be delivered through the Rotary Club of Warsaw City with whom our Scottish District 1010 clubs have already formed a strong relationship, with Alloa visiting the Warsaw Club three years ago.

“The water project aims to supply four self-contained water purification units each capable of supplying 800 litres of pure water per hour at an estimated cost of €25,000 per unit.”

Closer to home, the Alloa club is co-ordinating contributions from a number of other Scottish clubs.

“Around £7,000 has been sent so far and the Rotary Ceilidh in the Dunmar House Hotel on Friday, January 6, will add to the fund,” Alun continued.

“The project has already raised 75 per cent of the target and RC Milano Nord will apply for a Rotary Foundation Global Grant to enhance donations by 80 per cent.”

Alun and John from Alloa were pictured with Italian counterparts Alessandro Csat and Allesandra Rovescalli, project co-ordinator at Milano Nord, at the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.

Clacks people looking to support the project can email Alun via alun.morgan@califer.net or Allesandra via alessandra.rovescalli@lexalliance.it for more.