Haiti Earthquake Appeal reaches £12m overnight

Press release 16 January 2010

Web and phone donations to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal over the past 24 hours have added £10m to the £2m already raised.

The massive response shows the UK public understand that member agencies need their support as they overcome grave communications and logistical problems to help the tens of thousands of people desperately needing assistance.

The amount includes online and phone donations only, with amounts from corporate, postal, events, SMS and over-the-counter donations still to be recorded.

DEC Chief Executive Brendan Gormley said:

“The public’s deep sense of horror and need to help has been shown by the level of support we are already seeing online and over the phone. Their support means that our member agencies can co-ordinate and deliver emergency aid to the swathes of people who urgently need shelter, medical help, safe water and food.

“Aid is beginning to get through, with more supplies arriving today. We urge the public to continue to dig deep into their pockets so supplies can be sourced and delivered as swiftly as possible over the next few days and weeks.”

The DEC appeal was made public on Wednesday (13), but the full broadcast launch was not until yesterday. The appeal follows an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter Scale which levelled large parts of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.

Many DEC members already had a presence in Haiti before the earthquake so have the experience, local knowledge and links with local partners and community groups to ensure that emergency assistance can be delivered, despite the scale of the catastrophe.

Examples of what donations will go to include:

  • £25 will supply a kit of household essentials.
  • £50 buys a food pack to feed a family for a fortnight.
  • £100 provides temporary shelter for two families.

To make a donation to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk or call 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque made payable to ‘DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal’ to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.

Anyone wanting to stay up to date with developments in Haiti, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts can follow the DEC on twitter at http://twitter.com/decappeal or become a fan of ‘Disasters-Emergency-Committee-DEC’ on Facebook.

Notes to Editors

  • To make a postal donation make cheques payable to ‘DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal’ and mail to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.
  • Donations can be made at any high street bank, or at a Post Office by quoting Freepay 1449.
  • Text “GIVE” to 70077 to give £5 to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal. £5 goes to the DEC. You pay £5 plus the standard network SMS rate.
  • The DEC consists of: Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, World Vision.
  • The DEC criteria to launch an appeal are: The disaster must be on such a scale and of such urgency as to call for swift International humanitarian assistance. The DEC agencies, or some of them, must be in a position to provide effective and swift humanitarian assistance at a scale to justify a national Appeal. There must be reasonable grounds for concluding that a public appeal would be successful, either because of evidence of existing public sympathy for the humanitarian situation or because there is a compelling case indicating the likelihood of significant public support should an appeal be launched.
  • The DEC is very grateful for the technical advice and strategic communications support provided by BT to help us respond immediately to international disasters like the recent earthquake in Haiti. We also welcome the fact that BT are encouraging the public and their own customers to support the appeal.