DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal raises over £30 million in just one month amid warnings of second disaster

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Pakistan Floods Appeal has raised more than £30 million in just one month, as major concerns that a second disaster maybe looming with unsafe water and mosquitos leading to a wave of disease and death.

This incredible fundraising total is thanks to the generosity of the UK public and includes a private donation by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in early September. Her Majesty supported DEC appeals over many years, helping people around the world in their hour of greatest need.

The appeal also received support from Their Majesties King Charles III and The Queen Consort, Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales as well as Nobel laureate and activist Malala Yousafzai and writer and broadcaster Adil Ray OBE. 

The total also includes £5 million matched by the UK Government through the Aid Match scheme. DEC member charities are already on the ground delivering life-saving aid.

Mother of five Naseebo Mai, received assistance from Tearfund partner REEDS Pakistan in Rajanpur District, Punjab:

“In the beginning the water came very slowly so we didn't realise how serious the situation was, and then very suddenly the water was overwhelming. We managed to take a few items from home, but the flood has left me and my family with basically nothing. REEDS Pakistan team reached us in the hour of our hard time and supplied my family with cooked food, safe drinking water and a tent for temporary shelter. Without that help I really don't know what we would have done.” 

Eleven of the DEC’s member charities are currently responding in Pakistan. Appeal funds will be used to provide food aid and nutritional treatments, distribute cash grants, provide clean water and sanitation facilities, emergency medical care, temporary shelter and trauma counselling. 

DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said:

"We have seen an amazing response to this deeply shocking disaster, and we are so grateful to all who have supported the appeal for their generosity. We are deeply moved by the donation made by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and are immensely grateful to Her Majesty for the generous support she gave to the DEC over many years.

“This incredible outpouring of support has enabled DEC charities to provide essential aid and to relieve some of the suffering faced by millions of people in Pakistan right now.   

“But the scale of this devastation means we need to do much more if we are to protect the many men, women and children facing weeks and months of hunger and disease and whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed. 

“We are therefore asking those who can afford to help to donate what they can – these funds are literally a lifeline for some of the world’s most vulnerable people at a time of desperate need.” 

The new appeal total is announced as concerns continue about the spread of water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, malaria and dengue, causing further devastation to millions inside Pakistan.

Mr. Ashfaque Somooro, Executive Director of Research and Development Foundation, local partner of DEC member International Rescue Committee (IRC) said:

“Due to the lack of adequate sanitation and safe water facilities, flood victims are left at severe risk of water and vector borne diseases, and we are already witnessing an increase in gastrointestinal illness among affected people. We are afraid that worsening conditions will endanger the health and lives of the population - particularly children and pregnant mothers.” 

DEC charities are working to provide food, clean water and emergency shelter as well as healthcare, essential hygiene supplies and sanitation. 

• £10 could provide essential hygiene supplies for two people  
• £50 could provide emergency shelter for two families  
• £100 could provide emergency food for two families for a month 

ENDS  

Notes to editors:     

Media enquiries or to arrange an interview please call 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours) or email bguiton@dec.org.uk.

A collection of recent images and footage is available here. 

About the DEC: The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities at times of crisis overseas 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.       

Eleven of the DEC’s 15 member charities are confirmed to be responding either directly or through trusted local partners and will receive funds from this appeal, with others currently assessing the situation. The 11 members responding so far are Action Against Hunger, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Save the Children UK and Tearfund. 

The UK government matched, pound for pound, the first £5 million of public donations to the DEC Pakistan Appeal through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s UK Aid Match scheme. This is part of a £16.5m package of support to provide immediate help to people living in the most hard-hit areas.  

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 £5 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 conflict in Ukraine and to provide life-saving humanitarian aid to people in desperate need in Afghanistan. 

Through UK Aid Match, FCDO gives the British public the opportunity to decide how the UK aid budget is spent and support people in desperate need by matching their donations pound-for-pound. 

Any queries about UK Aid Match should be directed to the FCDO news desk on 020 7008 3100 or newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk.  

How to donate:         

• Online: dec.org.uk    
• Phone: 0330 678 1000. Standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply   
• SMS: To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70000. Texts cost £10 plus the standard network charge and the whole £10 goes to the DEC Pakistan Floods 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 DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA.