The Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Middle East Humanitarian Appeal tops £40 million, thanks to “extraordinary” generosity of UK public and fundraisers
Media Contacts: 07930 999 014 or 07890 839 270 (out of hours)
Donations can be made at dec.org.uk or by calling 0370 60 60 610
Images of the DEC response are available here.
An image of DEC CEO Saleh Saeed meeting the HM the King (ref no 2200011668), as well as a collection of images from the reception at Buckingham Palace are available here via Getty images.
The DEC’s Middle East Humanitarian Appeal has now raised more than £40 million since its launch in October, thanks to the amazing generosity of the UK public. This includes a second donation from Their Majesties The King and Queen, following on from a Humanitarian Reception hosted by Their Majesties at Buckingham Palace last week. The King and Queen were among the first to donate to the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal at its launch in October 2024.
At the event held at Buckingham Palace last Thursday, Their Majesties met a range of humanitarian experts from around the world, including those currently working for DEC charities and delivering lifesaving aid in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank, Turkey, Syria and Ukraine. They also met inspiring UK fundraisers, who have raised thousands of pounds for the DEC’s recent appeals.
Among those who met Their Majesties at the event were Michelle Jackson from Liverpool – who has raised money for two DEC appeals with her drumming group Batala Mersey – and Ilya Bykov, who lives in Sheffield and has supported recent DEC appeals through whisky auctions and a swimming challenge.
Michelle Jackson said:
“It was an honour to represent the DEC and Batala Mersey to be thanked by Their Majesties The King and Queen. The work that the DEC and all its member charities do is vital, especially at the moment. That's why we chose the DEC for our fundraiser to do whatever we could to support.
Ilya Bykov said:
“I've supported the incredible work being done by DEC charities around the world for several years now. Throughout my fundraising journey, I’ve witnessed incredible generosity and solidarity, with our community coming together to support those affected by conflict and disaster. It was an honour to meet Their Majesties the King and Queen and to celebrate the work of charities around the world.”
Last Thursday’s Humanitarian Reception highlighted the work of humanitarian organisations, including the DEC’s member charities, and Their Majesties’ long-standing support for humanitarian causes. As part of the event, The King and Queen viewed 15 images from the DEC, highlighting relief efforts in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Pakistan, Turkey, Syria, Sudan, and Gaza.
Money raised for the DEC’s Middle East Humanitarian Appeal is currently supporting people whose lives have been devastated by conflict across Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and Syria.
Over the past weeks, DEC charities and their local partners have been working to adapt their responses in Gaza to support some of the hundreds of thousands of people who have returned to their communities in the north and urgently need food, water, medical care, hygiene support and basic supplies. They are providing access to clean water through trucks, distributing hygiene kits, hot meals, warm clothing and bedding, and supporting families with medical care and specialist mental health support.
Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee, said:
“Their Majesties The King and Queen’s continued support for the DEC and our appeals highlights their ongoing commitment to addressing the world’s most urgent humanitarian crises. The levels of need in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and Syria are incredibly high, and every donation to the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal is helping our charities and their local partners to reach more people with lifesaving support. We are incredibly grateful for the UK public’s extraordinary generosity.”
Jamil Sawalmeh, Country Director for ActionAid Palestine, said:
“As part of our DEC funded response so far, we have provided hot meals, shelter services, and winter items to more than 19,000 people in the central and southern areas of Gaza. Thanks to the DEC’s flexible funding, we're also making sure that we have a people centred approach. Following the ceasefire, needs have been shifting as people have been moving north, so we are doing what we can to support them – but we urgently need more funds to continue this work.”
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Notes to editors
Media enquiries please call 07930 999 014 or 07890 839 270 (out of hours).
Interview requests: For spokespeople, pictures and b-roll please contact: sgard@dec.org.uk
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.
All 15 of the DEC’s members are responding in the Middle East 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, Plan International, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.
DEC member charities are committed to the principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity and independence – it guides all of the lifesaving work we do. As humanitarian aid agencies, we have an obligation to give aid wherever it is needed, prioritising the most urgent needs of the most vulnerable people.
The majority of funds from this appeal will be spent in Gaza and Lebanon, where millions of people are displaced and desperately need humanitarian support. Some of the funds will be used to support people in Syria, where hundreds of thousands have fled from Lebanon since September, and in the West Bank, where the recent escalation in violence has forced many to flee their homes, and had a devastating economic impact.
For the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal, £10 million of donations from the UK public have now been matched by UK Aid Match.
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 enquiries should be directed to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Please call 020 7023 0600 (24-hour).
