Disasters Emergency Committee Statement
14th February 2005
Further to a story in The Times newspaper published on 14 February 2005, the DEC and its member agencies want to assure the public that they can spend the money so generously donated to the tsunami earthquake appeal, and is determined to do so wisely and well.
Disaster relief is always complex. This disaster presents a major challenge as it affects millions of people across many countries; whole communities have been completely destroyed.
Over £100 million has already been allocated for the first year long phase of the relief effort, which is providing people with food, water, and shelter. The remainder will be spent on reconstruction and re-establishing livelihoods over a further two year period.
Money donated to the appeal will not be diverted to the UN or elsewhere.
We have on this occasion extended the normal time period for spending from 18 months to three years and will keep this under review. The issue is the effectiveness of the response, not the length of time it takes to spend the money. We want local partners and local people to be closely involved in directing the relief effort.
DEC members are also in discussion with several other UK-based charities that have the necessary skills and experience in humanitarian relief.
On 13 January we announced that the size of the response meant that the DEC was winding down its appeal, although planned fundraising events were to continue as money due to be raised from them is built into spending plans. An announcement of the closure of the appeal is scheduled for this week.
The British public should be proud and pleased with what they have created - a fund that is making a real difference to those hit by the tragedy.
ENDS
Back to Tsunami News.