FOR the past three years Southampton-born Guy Smallman has raised funds to help a refugee camp in Afghanistan.
But on New Year’s Eve when he visited the Chamne Babrak camp in Kabul he discovered that fire had swept through the camp leaving dozens of children without shelter.
Now Hampshire musicians have answered Guy’s plea for help online, and they will put on an emergency gig at the Joiners Arms in Southampton on January 5.
The fire destroyed nine family homes and left nearly 70 people homeless – more than half of which are children.
Photojournalist Guy said: “The people in the Chamne Babrak refugee camp have existed in terrible poverty since fleeing the Taliban in the late 1990s.
“To see them lose everything during the onset of winter in temperatures of -12 was absolutely heartbreaking.”
Guy, who is currently based in Afghanistan, won’t be able to make the concert, but he praised the Hampshire musicians who rallied around to help.
He said: “The response I’ve had from my friends since posting about this on Facebook has been brilliant.
“We’ve been able to offer practical help at very short notice and I am proud and humbled to know them all.”
One of the musicians, double bass player Grant Sharkey, said: “I know Guy is out there on his own and I know he can do something.
“Because of the urgency of this I felt compelled to help this gig could potentially save lives out there.”
Other musicians that will be playing include Big Fin, Jimmy Broomfield, Alex Bowron, Matt Reynolds and Reading-based rapper Lively.
The concert starts at 7.30pm at the Joiners Arms in St Mary Street, entry costs £5 on the door.
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