Two weeks on DEC Philippines typhoon appeal reaches £57 million

Press release 22 November 2013

Two weeks on from Super Typhoon Haiyan hitting the Philippines, donations to the DEC appeal set up to help survivors have reached £57million. 
 
The money coming in is already helping to pay for some of the aid being delivered. DEC member agencies and partners on the ground have provided assistance including food, clean water and temporary shelter materials to over half a million people.
 
Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said: “The public’s generous donations are helping us to reach more and more people each day who lost so much in the disaster and urgently need life’s essentials such as clean water, soap and food. 
 
“Two weeks on from the initial devastation the funds we are receiving will also mean we can support people to get back on their feet and start to rebuild their lives.”
 
Aid and support that has already reached people via DEC agencies and partners includes: 
 
• Food and hygiene kits to more than 24,000 people in northern Cebu and Iloilo via World Vision and hundreds of children are receiving support at a new child friendly space. 
 
• Oxfam has provided over 25,000 people with assistance so they can buy essentials like fuel, medicines and transport.
 
• Food and emergency shelter has been delivered to nearly 3000 people by Christian Aid and over 16,000 people have received shelter kits in Palo and Ormoc via CAFOD partners. 
 
Mulvarosa, a 57-year-old grandmother, was at home when the storm hit, along with five of her children and three grandchildren. She has received rice, noodles and tinned goods delivered via CAFOD’s partner. Mulvarosa said:  “My house is virtually destroyed, it has no roof. I’m very grateful to receive food and shelter.
 
“We were all very frightened and thought we were going to die, we were holding on to whatever we could. Many people died in our neighbourhood, including seven in just one family” she added. 
 
To make a donation to the DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal visit http://www.dec.org.uk, 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. You can also donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.
 
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 

What the money donated could buy:

  • £25: Water purification tablets for ten families for a month
  • £50: Feeds a family for two weeks
  • £100: Emergency shelter and bedding for one family 

ENDS
 
DEC press office 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours)
 
Notes to editors
 
The next donations update will be at 1200 on Monday 25th November 
 
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.
 
Donations can be made at any high street bank and at post office counters.
 
To donate £5 by text send the word SUPPORT to 70000.  The full £5 will go to the DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal. Donors must be 16 years or over and have the bill payer’s permission. Texts are free and donations will be added to the bill.
 
Donations can be made at www.dec.org.uk or 0370 60 60 900