Mobile donations for DEC Philippines disaster hit a record-breaking £6m

Press release 28 November 2013

The UK public have already donated a DEC record of £6 million via tablets and smart phones to assist those whose lives have been devastated by the Philippines typhoon.
 
The record-breaking figure has been donated over a much shorter time period than for previous DEC appeals, including the East Africa food crisis, and the total given now stands at £65 million. 
 
Donations from mobile devices have overwhelmingly come from Apple users, who have donated a staggering £4.4 million using their iPhone or iPad.
 
When the DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal was launched over two weeks ago more than one quarter of a million pounds was raised via text messages alone in the first hour, compared to almost £100,000 during the first hour of the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal. 
 
Subsequent text donation surges followed, including during the England football match on November 15, the televised appeal on ITV during the X Factor, and as a result of The Sun’s appeal. 
 
The highest ever number of mobile donations to the DEC reflects an overall trend for increased giving via electronic methods other than credit and debit card donations, including more people than ever before using touchscreen tablets and smart phones to send their appeal donations in an instant:

  • £3.5m was given by donors using tablets
  • £1.3m has been donated via text messages
  • £5.7m was given by PayPal, including £1.75m on tablets and smart phones.

DEC Head of Fundraising Adil Husseini said: “It is now even easier to make a donation to DEC appeals wherever and whenever you want. 
 
“We have made sure there are a number of different ways to quickly and efficiently give money so that it can be raised as fast as possible and ensure that aid reaches people in desperate need right now.
 
“We have seen that sending text donations is increasingly popular, and offering people the choice to give via PayPal accounts has also made the process of donating via mobiles, tablets and computers much faster and hassle free for many. 
 
“More than one million people have given money since the appeal began, and the public’s generous donations have helped enabled our member aid agencies to reach hundreds of thousands of people in the Philippines who have had their lives torn apart by this disaster.”
 
What your money will buy:
 

  • £25 buys water purification tablets for ten families for a month
  • £50 feeds a family for two weeks
  • £100 buys emergency shelter and bedding for one family

 
END
 
For interviews or further information please contact the DEC press office on 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours)
 
Notes to editors
• The DEC brings 14 leading UK aid charities together in times of crisis: ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Plan UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision; all collectively raising money to reach those in need quickly.
 
• To make a donation to the DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal visit http://www.dec.org.uk, text the word SUPPORT to 70000 to donate £5, call the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque. 
 
• Stay up to date with developments in the Philippines, the emergency response and the DEC’s fundraising efforts on twitter: http://twitter.com/decappeal or on Facebook via http://www.facebook.com/DisastersEmergencyCommittee