The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launches urgent appeal for “monster” Myanmar earthquake, with charities in “a race against time” to reach survivors with aid

Media Contacts: 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours)      

Donations can be made at www.dec.org.uk or by calling 0330 123 0555  

A collection of images and video footage of the aftermath of the earthquake and DEC charities responding is available here.  

To access a recording of today’s press conference email SGard@dec.org.uk  

Thursday 3 April 2025  

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launches urgent appeal for “monster” Myanmar earthquake, with charities in “a race against time” to reach survivors with aid

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has today launched the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal to raise urgent funds to help people impacted by the devastating earthquake in Myanmar – the worst to hit the country for a century and described by aid workers as a “monster” earthquake.

Over 3,000 people are now confirmed to have died, with many more injured. Soaring temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius are exacerbating the crisis, with families forced to sleep outside in the heat. The spread of illness and disease is a major concern for aid organisations responding, with access to clean water critically scarce.  

At a press conference to launch the appeal, Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive of the DEC, described the catastrophic impact of the earthquake. He was joined at the press conference by aid workers speaking directly from Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand, who detailed the desperate situation on the ground and need for critical humanitarian assistance.

Nadia Khoury, Head of Delegation in Myanmar at the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), partner organisation of DEC charity the British Red Cross said:  

“To give you an idea of the magnitude, this earthquake affected about 40 percent of the administrative territory of the country. It's absolutely huge. There are major healthcare needs in terms of existing injuries, but also the threat of disease due to lack of sanitation and lack of access to facilities.”

She said over 500 Red Cross volunteers are involved in the response, carrying out search and rescue operations, operating mobile health clinics, and delivering essential items. But she stressed the needs were growing.  

Dr Unni Krishnan, Global Humanitarian Director, at Plan International, said:  

“This is a monster earthquake – it has wiped out entire communities in Myanmar, people have lost everything. My colleagues, many of them with several years working in disaster zones, told me they had never seen anything like this. Homes have been flattened. Families have been displaced. Survivors are sleeping under the open sun. Children will go hungry.”

Dr Krishnan underlined the urgent need for relief assistance, especially for women and girls who are vulnerable in this crisis.  
Dr Edward Zan, Myanmar Operations and Response Director for World Vision, said:  

“We are focusing on five main [areas]: health, education, livelihoods, protection and emergency response. We've been working with the community, and because of our presence here for more than 30 years, we have a very good relationship with the community, as well as the community leaders.”

Madara Hettiarachchi, the DEC’s Director of Programmes and Accountability, said:  

“We’re now in a race against time in Myanmar – cyclone season is around the corner, monsoon season is around the corner. Major highways are damaged. Bridges have collapsed. Communication networks are down. Electricity is patchy - the clock is ticking. Speed is so important, targeted humanitarian support is critical. It’s not just food, water and shelter, its helping families rebuild their lives.”

TV appeal films to raise funds to support DEC charities’ response will air on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky following tonight’s evening news. Every pound donated by the British public will be matched by the UK Government through its UK Aid Match scheme, up to the value of £5 million.

People can donate online: https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/myanmar-earthquake-appeal

£10 could provide urgently needed water to ten families for a day 
£50 could provide emergency food for a family for one month
£100 could provide essential hygiene supplies for 10 families for 3 months

For more information on the appeal, please visit the DEC website.  

Stay up to date with the appeal with the DEC on X or on Facebook.    

 - END –  

Notes to editors:  

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.  

UK Aid Match has increased the impact of a number of DEC appeals to help those in need around the world, including most recently in the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal and the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal.  

Enquiries about UK Aid Match and UK Government support for Myanmar 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: 0330 123 0555  

Text to give/SMS: text SUPPORT to 70727 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 Myanmar Earthquake Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA.