DEC launches Afghanistan Crisis Appeal with a million children at risk of dying this winter

Leading UK aid agencies will launch a joint fundraising appeal on Wednesday 15 December as a catastrophic rise in severe hunger sweeps Afghanistan, with eight million people at risk of starvation over the harsh winter months. Children are already dying, and a million more are at risk. 

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Afghanistan Crisis Appeal will raise funds for member charities to urgently respond as conflict and economic collapse, coupled with the worst drought in 27 years and the Covid-19 pandemic, have brought Afghanistan to a tipping point.   

DEC charities, including the International Rescue Committee UK, British Red Cross, Save the Children and CAFOD, say that urgent action to scale up operations is needed to prevent many lives being lost as more than 22 million people – 55% of the population – don't have enough to eat.  

More than eight million people are on the brink of famine, with a million children under the age of five at risk of dying over the next three months. Acting quickly is essential before the freezing winter sets in, with temperatures falling as low as -12 degrees centigrade. 

Three million children under five are expected to suffer acute malnutrition over the winter as families are unable to grow or pay for food. DEC charities are reporting hospitals already struggling to treat shockingly malnourished mothers and children due to a lack of medicines and supplies.  

Saleh Saeed, DEC Chief Executive, said: “The situation in Afghanistan is now beyond horrific. A million children are at risk of dying this winter. We can’t just sit back and let that happen. We must act fast to reach them with the food they so badly need. 

“Our members are on the ground and already helping but we urgently need to scale this work up to reach many more in need. People are starving – eight million are on the brink of famine. 

“We're urging people to donate to help families feed their children, protect themselves against freezing temperatures and to provide vital medical supplies to deal with malnutrition, hypothermia and acute respiratory infections, otherwise many young children will simply not survive the coming months. Thanks to the UK Government, donations from the public will be doubled up to £10 million.” 

The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky will be broadcasting appeals on Wednesday (15 December) following the news in support of DEC fundraising. Appeals will also be broadcast on BBC and commercial radio. 

The appeal will fund DEC charities and their local partners to provide emergency food and nutrition support for children, support healthcare facilities, provide winter kits to help displaced families stay warm, supply clean drinking water and protect women and girls.  

• £10 could provide treatment to a child suffering from malnutrition for three weeks   
• £20 could feed a family for a week   
• £25 could provide blankets for five people for the winter months   
• £100 could provide emergency food to a family for three months   

Donations from the public will be matched pound-for-pound by the UK Government up to a total of £10 million through its UK Aid Match scheme. This support will double the impact of the public’s own donations and will ensure that charities working on the ground can reach more people in need. 

To make a donation to the DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk  call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 610 or send a cheque. To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70150. Texts cost £10 plus your standard network rate and the whole £10 goes to the DEC AFGHANISTAN CRISIS APPEAL. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer's permission. For full terms and conditions and more information go to www.dec.org.uk  

Stay up to date with developments on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/decappeal or on Facebook via www.facebook.com/DisastersEmergencyCommittee  
 

Notes to editors 

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About the DEC: When large-scale disasters hit countries without the capacity to respond, the DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently. In these times of crisis, people in life-and-death situations need our help and our mission is to save, protect and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian response. The DEC’s 15 member charities are: Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.  

Thirteen of the DEC’s 15 members are responding in Afghanistan, either directly or through national affiliates or trusted local partners, and will receive funds from this appeal. They are Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.  

Through UK Aid Match the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office gives the British public the opportunity to have a say in how the UK aid budget is spent whilst boosting the impact of the very best British charities to change and save the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. UK Government match funding will double British public’s own donations to the DEC appeal up to £10 million and will ensure that DEC member charities working on the ground can reach even more people in need. 

UK Aid Match has increased the impact of a number of DEC appeals to help those in need around the world, including most recently to support people affected by the coronavirus pandemic in fragile states and refugee camps as part of the DEC’s Coronavirus Appeal in 2020. 

UK Aid Match enquiries and enquiries about UK Government support for Afghanistan should be directed to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Newsdesk. Please call 020 7008 3100 or email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk. 

How to donate:   

Online:  dec.org.uk  

Phone: 0370 60 60 610 

SMS: To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70150. Texts cost £10 and the whole £10 goes to the DEC AFGHANISTAN CRISIS APPEAL. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer's permission. For full terms and conditions and more information go to www.dec.org.uk  

Or donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque by post to Post: DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA.