DEC Venezuela Earthquake Appeal raises over £10m, as His Majesty The King donates alongside generous British public
The UK public have rallied together in support of the DEC's Venezuela Earthquake Appeal, which has now raised over £10m, and includes a donation from His Majesty The King.
As a long-standing supporter of the DEC, The King has over time shown a keen interest in the humanitarian work of DEC member charities. The donation to the appeal will help DEC charities continue to provide vital support to people in Venezuela affected by the disaster, alongside the contributions of the British public.
On the ground in Venezuela, DEC charities are working with local partners, who have been embedded within communities for many years and were among the first to respond following the devastating earthquakes.
Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee is due to arrive in Venezuela on Tuesday to witness aid distribution by member charities.
Examples of how DEC charities and their local partners are supporting people in Venezuela include:
- British Red Cross working alongside the Venezuelan Red Cross is providing shelter facilities to support people who may require temporary refuge due to damaged homes or unsafe buildings.
- Plan International are providing life-saving essentials include shelter, food, water & hygiene kits, where key infrastructure has been damaged.
- World Vision has established two Child-Friendly Spaces, providing safe environments for play, recreation, and psychosocial activities for affected children
The DEC brings together 15 leading aid charities at times of crisis overseas. Fourteen of which are responding in Venezuela including International Rescue Committee, Save the Children and Oxfam, working with locally led relief efforts.
Donations to this appeal from the public were matched pound for pound by the UK government up to £2 million, as part of its UK Aid Match scheme.
Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee, said:
“I am extremely grateful to His Majesty The King for their donation to the Venezuela Earthquake Appeal, highlighting their ongoing commitment to addressing the world’s most urgent humanitarian crises.
“As I travel to Venezuela to see the impact of donations first hand, vital aid is already being delivered to survivors by member charities and their trusted local partners. But we can reach more people, families and children with your donations. If you are able – please help.”
Further information can be found here: dec.org.uk
Notes to editors:
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A collection of images and video footage of the aftermath of the earthquake and DEC charities responding is available here.
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. The DEC’s 15 member charities 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 UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.
Fourteen of the DEC’s 15 member charities are either responding or planning to respond in Venezuela and will receive funds from this appeal.
The total includes £2 million matched by the UK Government through its UK Aid Match scheme.
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 has increased the impact of a number of DEC appeals to help those in need around the world, including most recently in the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal, the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal and the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal.
Enquiries about UK Aid Match and UK Government support for Venezuela should be directed to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Newsdesk. Please email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk.