DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal raises over £100m in two weeks as stars praise ‘moving’ response

• Daniel Craig praises ‘incredibly moving’ response from British public 
• Total includes generous donations from members of the Royal Family 
• At least 44,000 people are known to have been killed in the earthquakes 
• DEC charities are providing emergency relief across both countries 

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) today announced that donations to its Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal have reached an incredible £101.5 million in a fortnight as the two countries grapple with a vast humanitarian crisis following the disaster. 

The funds are already providing urgent relief for people affected by the earthquakes which have killed more than 44,000 people, injured more than 100,000 and displaced hundreds of thousands of families.  The UN said on Tuesday that 1.5 million people had been made homeless in the south of Turkey. 

DEC charities have been helping people in both Turkey and Syria by providing emergency shelter, medical care, hot food and food parcels, blankets, bedding and other household items, clean water and safe spaces for children. More details are available here. 

After the initial two earthquakes on Monday February 6, at least six people were killed in a third earthquake two weeks on with a magnitude of 6.4 in Hatay in Turkey followed by an aftershock of 5.8, causing more buildings to collapse in Turkey and Syria. 

The DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal was launched on 9 February by actors Daniel Craig and Tamsin Greig who made impassioned pleas to support the appeal on TV. Sir Michael Palin and the Reverend Richard Coles also voiced radio appeals. 

The total includes generous donations from Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort and Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as £5 million matched by the UK Government through the UK Aid Match scheme.  

Actor Daniel Craig, who presented the TV appeal on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky, said:  

“The public's generous response to the DEC’s appeal for survivors of the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey has been incredibly moving to see.  

“The earthquakes lasted seconds but the aftermath will last for years. Since I filmed the broadcast appeal, the numbers of people confirmed as killed or injured have gone up by tens of thousands.   

“Hospitals, schools and businesses have been reduced to rubble, and hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless in freezing winter conditions. Please do what you can to help them by supporting the DEC appeal.”  

Sir Michael Palin, actor, comedian and presenter, said: 

“The crisis is deepening for many people in Turkey and Syria who are struggling to find food to eat, clothes to wear and fuel to heat their wrecked homes - if they are still standing.   

“It is bitterly cold in Turkey and northwest Syria and it's hard to grasp how families are coping. DEC charities and their local partners on the ground are helping people get through this crisis with emergency support, and will help them rebuild their lives in the months ahead.   

“I was pleased to be able to support the DEC appeal by raising awareness, and I'm delighted it has raised so much so quickly."  

The DEC brings together 15 leading aid charities at times of crisis overseas. Fourteen of these are responding in Turkey and Syria including Islamic Relief, Oxfam and the International Rescue Committee, working with locally-led relief efforts.  

Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive of the DEC, said:    

“The UK public have once again excelled and supported people when they need it most. All of us at the DEC are incredibly grateful.    

“With a third earthquake, people are terrified all over again. They are scared of being in their own homes if they remain standing, and are worried about being unable to provide for their families with no job to go to.   

“Your donations are already helping and will continue to provide emergency shelter, warm blankets and food for the families who have lost their homes, urgent medical support for the injured and psychosocial support to children to help them start to cope with their experiences.   

“DEC charities continue to rapidly assess the ever-changing situation but they urgently need your support to help scale up their response as the situation unfolds and humanitarian needs continue to grow.”  

 Stay up to date with developments in Turkey and Syria, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts with the DEC on Twitter or on Facebook.    

ENDS  

Notes to editors:    

Media enquiries please call 020 7387 0200 or 07734 653616 (out of hours) or email sgard@dec.org.uk.       

Spokespeople from the affected areas are available for media interview.  

A collection of images and video footage of the aftermath of the earthquake and DEC charities responding 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.         
   
Fourteen of the DEC’s 15 members are either responding or planning to respond in Turkey and Syria and will receive funds from this appeal. Some may work through trusted local partners. 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, Oxfam GB, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.        
   
Through UK Aid Match the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) 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 Aid Match has increased the impact of a number of DEC appeals to help those in need around the world, including most recently Pakistan Floods Appeal and Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, both in 2022.  The UK matched up to £25 million of public donations to DEC’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal - the largest commitment ever made to a DEC appeal through UK Aid Match.      
   
Enquiries about UK Aid Match and UK Government support for Turkey/Syria should be directed to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Newsdesk. Please email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk  
   
How to donate:          

Online: dec.org.uk 

Phone: 0370 60 60 610       

Text to give/SMS: for press releases: text SUPPORT to 70787 to donate £10. Other partners should use the specific text codes they have been provided with by the DEC.       

Donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque by post to: DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA.