How we work
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) was formed in 1963. The DEC unites the UK's leading independent humanitarian agencies in their efforts to raise income through media appeals to provide humanitarian emergency relief and alleviate the suffering of people affected by major disasters overseas.
The DEC has 13 member charities. DEC members come together in times of disaster - such as floods, earthquakes and famine - and they work to save lives and alleviate the suffering of people affected.
As well as these 13 agencies, the DEC has a support network made up of television and radio broadcasters, the banks, the Post Office, BT, regional and national press and a range of organisations in the corporate sector. These organisations help at the time of an appeal, publicising the situation and raising funds from donations.
The DEC approaches its work by:
- using the media to create a single appeals mechanism for national fundraising and public response
- galvanising our member agencies into a national fundraising effort
- ensuring that funds raised go to DEC agencies best placed to deliver aid to those in most need in an effective, timely and fully accountable way.
The DEC Secretariat is employed to manage these processes on behalf of its members.
This system means that the member agencies are all involved in a joint appeal, achieving maximum publicity and providing a convenient and cost-effective way for the general public to make a donation. The fact that the DEC is overseeing the situation means that the agencies can work together, avoiding duplication and facilitating emergency cooperation, coordination and communication.
We have been incredibly effective in both raising funds and providing humanitarian aid quickly and effectively. Thanks to the generosity of the general public £13 million was raised to help the people of Darfur, Chad and Central Africa Republic, £60 million for the Asia Quake Appeal and a record-breaking £390 million for the Tsunami Appeal.
We are legally accountable for using your money responsibly. The way our members spend the money raised is monitored and we publish the results on our website for the public to see.
For more information about the DEC including our legal mandate, members information and networks, read About DEC.
Annual Report 2007/08 PDF