The DEC’s Myanmar Earthquake Appeal raises over £16 million in its first week, as charities warn of growing health crisis

** Spokespeople, recent photos, audio and footage are available **   

The generous UK public has helped to raise over £16 million for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Myanmar Earthquake Appeal in its first week, as the full extent of the support required emerges.

New UN OCHA figures show that of 17 million people affected by the earthquake, there are 6.3 million in the worst affected areas, with 5.2m needing shelter and 3.9m requiring food assistance.  

Aid workers have warned of the rapidly growing risk of disease, after heavy rain this week worsened conditions further for families living outside in makeshift shelters. Striking photos showed camps in rural areas inundated with rainwater.  

Overcrowded shelter sites and a critical lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities has led the United Nations (UN) to warn of a growing risk of waterborne diseases, including diarrhea and cholera, as well as a shortage of essential medical care.  

An estimated 2.4 million people are currently in need of health assistance in the worst hit areas. Additionally, more than 150,000 pregnant women are living in areas affected by the devastation. They face giving birth and caring for newborns where food, medicine and water are scarce. Aid workers have warned that some new mothers are not able to breast feed due to the trauma of the earthquake.

Sandar, 30-year-old a mother of two children, including a newborn, from the Mandalay region said, “I’m worried for both of my children. I don’t even know what to say. I’m also worried about how we’ll survive in the future—how we’ll live, how we’ll eat.

“As a mother of a newborn, I need healthcare. My baby had a runny nose and signs of asthma. I used coconut oil and traditional medicine to relieve her. Medicine is what we need the most.”  

DEC charities and their local partners are working around the clock to provide people with basic hygiene supplies, clean water, and shelter items, as well as deploying mobile health clinics to impacted areas to provide urgent medical support.    

Friday marks two weeks since a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced. This weekend also marks the start of Thingyan, Myanmar’s New Year, traditionally a time of celebration in the country.  

Phoebe Naw, World Vision Advocacy & Communications Director in Myanmar, said: “I’ve seen many families—including mothers and children—sleeping outside on the pavements at night. Sleeping outside leaves them exposed and unsafe, and if it rains, it is even worse. Some people say they have skin infections due to water scarcity and fever. Lactating mothers cannot breast feed their children due to the shock. Older women are getting sick. I will not celebrate Thingyan festival. Thingyan is the major event of Myanmar, which everyone expects to enjoy and welcome the new year. But this tragedy does not allow my heart to enjoy it.”

Saleh Saeed, the DEC’s Chief Executive, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated to the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal so far, as people continue to feel the severe impacts of the disaster. Donations are already making a real difference to people living in the most difficult circumstances. As the full picture emerges of the need for assistance, please do continue to give if you can. ”  

The £16 million total also includes donations from DEC corporate partners. The UK Government is continuing to match all public donations to the Appeal up to £5 million.  

The DEC brings together 15 leading aid charities at times of crisis overseas. All of them are responding in Myanmar including Plan International UK, The British Red Cross and the International Rescue Committee, working with locally-led relief efforts.

ENDS  

Notes to editors:  

Media enquiries please call 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours)    

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.    

All of the DEC’s 15 members are either responding or planning to respond in Myanmar and will receive funds from this appeal. They are already delivering lifesaving aid to communities impacted by the earthquake and have decades of experience working with trusted local partners to support people across Myanmar. 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, Plan International UK, 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.