Press Release: 19 May
DEC Myanmar (Burma) Appeal raises £8 million
Aid reaches over 600,000 people
The DEC Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal donation total has reached £8 million and vital aid efforts have now reached over 600,000 people.
Speaking about the appeal to date, Brendan Gormley, Chief Executive, Disasters Emergency Committee, said: “I’m delighted that the British public have recognised what a difference their donations can make and are continuing to give. Aid is getting through to over 600,000 people thanks to this generosity.”
All money raised is going directly to support member agencies, some of whom work are working directly and others who work through local partners in country. This money is ensuring that urgent supplies of food, water and medical supplies are getting to thousands of vulnerable people, including children and the elderly, in the affected areas.
“This money is saving lives right now in Myanmar but with a disaster of this magnitude there is always much, much more that could be done. Whilst hundreds of thousands of people have been reached there are many more who still desperately need our help. We urgently need more funds if we are to continue to reach more people.”
The DEC provides information on its website – www.dec.org.uk about how the money is being used to give the British public assurance that their money is being and will continue to be spent where it is most needed.
To make an urgent donation to the DEC Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal. Donate online: www.dec.org.uk or call: 0870 60 60 900.
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Notes to editors:
The DEC
The Disasters Emergency Committee agencies are Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.
Public donations will be used for immediate needs such as food, clean water, medicines and shelter. But the scale of the devastation is so immense that a huge relief and reconstruction effort will be needed over the coming months.
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Notes to Editors
1. For press information please call 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999014 (out of hours).
2. The DEC criteria to launch an appeal are:
The disaster must be on such a scale and of such urgency as to call for swift International humanitarian assistance.
The DEC agencies, or some of them, must be in a position to provide effective and swift humanitarian assistance at a scale to justify a national Appeal.
There must be sufficient public awareness of, and sympathy for, the humanitarian situation so as to give reasonable grounds for concluding that a public Appeal would be successful.
