DEC East Africa appeal reaches £36 million

Press release 26 March 2017

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal for East Africa has raised more than £36 million in 11 days. Donations continue to pour in from the UK public, with over £3m from Scotland, more than £1m from Wales and almost £800,000 from Northern Ireland.

Prolonged drought and conflict have left 16 million people across East Africa on the brink of starvation and in urgent need of food, water and medical treatment.
 
Women and children are forced to walk for hours to fetch water. 19.5 million people across the region do not have a regular supply of safe drinking water, putting them at risk of life threatening water borne diseases. 
 
Food is increasingly scarce. With failed crops and soaring food prices mothers are struggling to find food and feed their children. Emaciated livestock are almost worthless. In Northern Kenya, goats which previously sold for the equivalent of £54 are now worth just £4, whilst sheep have dropped from £39 to £4.
 
More than 800,000 children under 5 are severely malnourished. Without immediate treatment, they are at risk of starving to death.
 
Money raised by the DEC appeal will provide millions of people in desperate need with vital food, water and medical treatment.
 
DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said: “The response has been phenomenal. I cannot thank the British public, trusts and companies enough for their generous support to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal, which has now raised an incredible £36m. 

“Our member charities are already on the ground providing life-saving assistance to some of the worst affected people. Your generosity is helping them step up their response, providing more food, water and medical care to millions of people across East Africa who are in dire need.

Every donation makes a huge difference, so if you haven’t had a chance to support please don’t delay, donate today.”

What your money could buy:

  • £25 could provide a month’s supply of life-saving peanut paste to a malnourished child.
  • £60 could provide clean drinking water for two families for a month
  • £100 could provide supplies to a clinic treating severely malnourished children for a week.

 
-Ends-
 
Notes to editors:

  • Media enquiries please call 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours).
  • The DEC brings 13 leading UK aid charities together in times of crisis: ActionAid, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, Plan International UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision; all collectively raising money to reach those in need quickly.
  • Keira Knightley Matt Baker, Brenda Blethyn, Tamsin Greig, Bill Nighy and Eddie Redmayne have backed the DEC’s East Africa Crisis Appeal by recording calls for support from the public.
  • The UK Government has matched pound for pound for the first £10 million donated by the public to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal through its Aid Match Fund.
  • Donations can be made at any high street bank and at Post Office counters. To make a postal donation make cheques payable to ‘DEC’ and mail to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.
  • To donate £5 by text send the word SUPPORT to 70000. The full £5 will go to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal. Donors must be 16 years or over and have bill payers’ permission. Texts are free and donations will be added to the bill.