The Antwerp World Diamond Centre is urging all sectors of the Belgian diamond industry to support Consortium for Emergency Relief 1212, an organization that is working to fight famine faced by some 12 million residents of the Horn of Africa.



"It is an opportune moment for our community to demonstrate that diamonds also have a heart," said AWDC CEO Ari Epstein.



According to the AWDC website, the organization has asked all members of the Antwerp diamond sector that use its services to add a €5 surcharge to their invoices, which will be donated to famine relief efforts.



If over €2,500 is raised by the end of September, the AWDC will match that amount. Diamond companies interested in donating individually can do so through a dedicated bank account (IBAN BE51 731-010196318-62 “AWDC - Action 1212”).