Disasters Emergency Committee

2025-08-04T01:10:44Z

2A01:4B00:848E:DD00:C58B:ADF8:31E0:7CBF: /* Notable DEC appeals */

{{Short description|Group of UK charities}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
The '''Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)''' is an umbrella group<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dec.org.uk/how-we-work|title=How we work|date=2015-01-30|work=Disasters Emergency Committee|access-date=2017-10-09|language=en}}</ref> of [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[Charitable organization|charities]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission|title=The Charity Commission – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-10-09}}</ref> which coordinates and launches collective appeals to raise funds to provide emergency aid and rapid relief to people caught up in disasters and humanitarian crises around the world. Since being formed in 1963, the DEC has had strong relationships with major UK broadcasters in particular the BBC and ITV, who provide airtime to broadcast emergency appeals upon its recommendation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.emergency-appeals-alliance.org/portfolio/disasters-emergency-committee-uk/|title=Disasters Emergency Committee, UK – Emergency Appeals Alliance|work=Emergency Appeals Alliance|access-date=2017-10-09|language=en-GB}}</ref> It is a member of the global Emergency Appeals Alliance, which reports that since its first television appeal in 1966, the DEC has raised over £1.4 billion.<ref name=":0" />

The DEC is a registered charity (charity no: 1062638)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1062638&SubsidiaryNumber=0|title=Charity overview|access-date=2017-10-09}}</ref> with 15 charity members all with associated disaster relief capabilities such as providing clean water, [[humanitarian aid]] and medical care.

The charity came to increased prominence during the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] when people donated to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

==Notable DEC appeals==
The first DEC appeal was run for victims of an [[List of earthquakes in Turkey|earthquake in Turkey]] in 1966.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/appeals-archive|title=Appeals Archive|date=2014-11-26|work=Disasters Emergency Committee|access-date=2017-10-09|language=en}}</ref>

In 2004, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) ran UK television appeals and telephone lines for donations following the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]] and tsunami, which raised a record £392m in public donations,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/dec/25/where-did-indian-ocean-tsunami-aid-money-go|title=Where did the Indian Ocean tsunami aid money go?|last=Kweifio-Okai|first=Carla|date=2014-12-25|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-10-09|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Between January and July 2010, the DEC appealed for donations following the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], raising a total of £107 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dec.org.uk/appeals/haiti-earthquake-appeal |title=Haiti Earthquake Appeal |author= |website=Disasters Emergency Committee |accessdate=12 November 2013}}</ref>

On 22 January 2009, the BBC declined a request from the DEC to screen an appeal to raise money to aid relief efforts for victims of conflict in the [[Gaza Strip]], as they felt supporting the appeal would effectively mean the BBC taking a political stance on the Gaza conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/bbc-trust-backs-thompson-over-gaza-appeal-1626726.html|title=BBC Trust backs Thompson over Gaza appeal|website=The Independent|date=19 February 2009|access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> This decision was the object of considerable [[BBC controversies|controversy]] within the BBC<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jan/26/bbc-staff-protest-over-gaza-aid-appeal|title=BBC staff protest over decision not to show Gaza aid appeal|last=Holmwood|first=Leigh|date=2009-01-26|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-10-09|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> as it is the only time the BBC is known to have refused such a request from the DEC; the 2009 Gaza appeal in question was screened by Channel 4 and ITV and raised £8.3m.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/appeals-archive|title=Appeals Archive|date=2014-11-26|work=Disasters Emergency Committee|access-date=2017-10-09|language=en}}</ref> Since then, the BBC has broadcast other DEC aid appeals for people in Gaza, without similar controversy. The DEC August 2014 Gaza appeal shown by the BBC helped to raise £16m over two years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/gaza-crisis-appeal|title=Gaza Crisis Appeal|date=2014-08-08|work=Disasters Emergency Committee|access-date=2017-10-09|language=en}}</ref>

On the launch of its appeal in October 2017 for Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar to Bangladesh, the UK Government pledged to double public donations up to £3 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/disasters-emergency-committee-appeal-for-people-fleeing-burma-reaches-3-million-with-uk-aid-support|title=Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for people fleeing Burma reaches £3 million with UK aid support – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-10-09}}</ref> Similarly, a pledge to match public donations up to £20 million was made by the UK Government in 2022 in response to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dec.org.uk/ |title=Key facts|access-date= 3 March 2022}}</ref>

In 2024, an attempted DEC appeal for [[Humanitarian aid during the Gaza war|humanitarian aid]] to address the [[Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present)|Gaza humanitarian crisis]] during the [[Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip]] was delayed by the [[BBC]], with some reporting this was due to fears a backlash from supporters of Israel in its war with Hamas.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sherwood |first1=Harriet |title=Aid agency insiders claim BBC ‘blocking’ Gaza humanitarian appeal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/sep/06/aid-agency-insiders-claim-bbc-blocking-gaza-humanitarian-appeal?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other |website=The Guardian |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref>

==Notable fundraising events for the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal==

In March 2022, Royal Ballet star [[Ivan Putrov]] directed Dance For Ukraine alongside Romanian ballet dancer [[Alina Cojocaru]].{{fact|date=October 2022}} The event took place at the [[London Coliseum]] on 19 March and raised £140,000 for DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Craine |first=Debra |date=2022-03-22 |title=Dance for Ukraine review — a fundraising gala of incredible skill and spirit |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/dance-for-ukraine-review-a-fundraising-gala-of-incredible-skill-and-spirit-x3h3dzvk8 |access-date=2022-11-20 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

On 29 March 2022, [[Concert for Ukraine]] took place at [[Resorts World Arena]] in [[Birmingham]] and it aired on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. It was presented by [[Capital (radio network)|Capital FM]] presenter [[Roman Kemp]], [[Marvin Humes]] and Emma Bunton. [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] pledged people to donate to DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.{{fact|date=October 2022}} Artists included [[Snow Patrol]], [[Tom Odell]], [[Ed Sheeran]] and [[Camila Cabello]] and the show ran for two hours.{{fact|date=October 2022}} More than £13.4 million was donated by midday the day after the concert.{{fact|date=October 2022}}

== Member charities of the Disasters Emergency Committee ==

As of November 2024, the committee's member organisations are:<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dec.org.uk/member-charities|title=Member charities|date=2024-11-11|work=Disasters Emergency Committee|access-date=2024-11-11|language=en}}</ref>

{{Flatlist|* [[ActionAid]]
* [[Action Against Hunger]]
* [[British Red Cross]]
* [[CAFOD]]
* [[CARE (relief)|CARE International]]
* [[Christian Aid]]
* [[Concern (charity)|Concern]]
* [[Age International]]
* [[International Rescue Committee]]
* [[Islamic Relief]]
* [[Oxfam]]
* [[Plan International]]
* [[Save the Children]]
* [[Tearfund]]
* [[World Vision]]}}

==List of DEC appeals==
Recent<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dec.org.uk/appeals/ |title=Appeals |website=Disasters Emergency Committee |accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref> and archive<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/appeals-archive |title=Appeals Archive |website=Disasters Emergency Committee |accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref> DEC appeals.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Date !! Location !! Appeal reason !! Amount raised
|-
| {{dts|1966|8}} || Turkey || [[1966 Varto earthquake|Earthquake]] || £560,000
|-
| {{dts|1967|6}} || Middle East || [[Six-Day War|War]] || £160,000
|-
| {{dts|1968|2}} || Vietnam || [[Vietnam War|War]] || £360,000
|-
| {{dts|1968|9}} || Iran || [[1968 Dasht-e Bayaz and Ferdows earthquakes|Earthquake]] || £210,000
|-
| {{dts|1968|11}} || Nigeria || [[Nigerian Civil War|War]] || £240,000
|-
| {{dts|1969|10}} || Algeria and Tunisia || Floods || £90,000
|-
| {{dts|1969|11}} || Yugoslavia || [[1969 Banja Luka earthquake|Earthquake]] || £60,000
|-
| {{dts|1970|3}} || Turkey || [[1970 Gediz earthquake|Earthquake]] || £370,000
|-
| {{dts|1970|6}} || Peru || [[1970 Ancash earthquake|Earthquake]] || £230,000
|-
| {{dts|1970|6}} || Romania || [[1970 floods in Romania|Floods]] || £110,000
|-
| {{dts|1970|11}} || East Pakistan (Bangladesh) || [[1970 Bhola cyclone|Cyclone]] || £1,490,000
|-
| {{dts|1971|6}} || India and Pakistan || [[Bangladesh Liberation War|War]] || £1,420,000
|-
| {{dts|1972|12}} || Nicaragua || [[1972 Nicaragua earthquake|Earthquake]] || £340,000
|-
| {{dts|1973|10}} || Ethiopia and the Sahel || [[Famines in Ethiopia|Drought]] || £1,540,000
|-
| {{dts|1974|9}} || Honduras || [[Hurricane Fifi–Orlene|Hurricane]] || £350,000
|-
| {{dts|1976|2}} || Guatemala || [[1976 Guatemala earthquake|Earthquake]] || £1,300,000
|-
| {{dts|1979|9}} || Indo-China || [[Sino-Vietnamese War|War]] || £560,000
|-
| {{dts|1979|11}} || India || [[Tropical cyclones in India|Cyclone]] || £870,000
|-
| {{dts|1980|6}} || East Africa || Drought || £6,100,000
|-
| {{dts|1982|3}} || Central America || [[Central American crisis|War]] || £430,000
|-
| {{dts|1982|7}} || Lebanon || [[1982 Lebanon War|War]] || £1,030,000
|-
| {{dts|1983|3}} || Ethiopia || [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia|Famine]] || £1,970,000
|-
| {{dts|1984|6}} || Africa || [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia|Famine]] || £9,520,000
|-
| {{dts|1984|10}} || Ethiopia || [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia|Famine]] || £5,250,000
|-
| {{dts|1985|5}} || Bangladesh || [[1985 Bangladesh cyclone|Cyclone]] || £1,400,000
|-
| {{dts|1987|6}} || Mozambique || [[Mozambican Civil War|War/Drought]] || £2,480,000
|-
| {{dts|1987|12}} || Ethiopia || [[Famines in Ethiopia|Famine]] || £2,690,000
|-
| {{dts|1988|8}} || Sudan || [[1988 Sudan floods|Floods]] || £8,890,000
|-
| {{dts|1988|9}} || Bangladesh || [[Floods in Bangladesh|Floods]] || £5,810,000
|-
| {{dts|1988|9}} || Caribbean || [[Hurricane Gilbert|Hurricane]] || £1,000,000
|-
| {{dts|1989|12}} || Ethiopia || [[Famines in Ethiopia|Famine]] || £10,240,000
|-
| {{dts|1990|9}} || Gulf || [[Gulf War|War]] || £3,490,000
|-
| {{dts|1991|1}} || Africa || || £7,930,000
|-
| {{dts|1991|5}} || Bangladesh || [[1991 Bangladesh cyclone|Cyclone]] || £3,520,000
|-
| {{dts|1991|6}} || Africa || || £2,600,000
|-
| {{dts|1992|9}} || Africa || || £17,300,000
|-
| {{dts|1993|10}} || Africa || || £2,530,000
|-
| {{dts|1994|2}} || Yugoslavia || [[Yugoslav Wars|War]] || £2,600,000
|-
| {{dts|1994|5}} || Rwanda || [[Rwandan genocide|War/Genocide]] || £37,000,000
|-
| {{dts|1998|5}} || Sudan || [[1998 Sudan famine|Famine]] || £10,500,000
|-
| {{dts|1998|9}} || Bangladesh || [[Floods in Bangladesh|Floods]] || £5,500,000
|-
| {{dts|1998|11}} || Central America || [[Hurricane Mitch|Hurricane]] || £18,500,000
|-
| {{dts|1999|4}} || Kosovo || [[Kosovo War|War]] || £53,000,000
|-
| {{dts|1999|11}} || India || [[1999 Odisha cyclone|Cyclone]] || £7,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2000|3}} || Mozambique || [[2000 Mozambique flood|Floods]] || £30,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2001|2}} || India || [[2001 Gujarat earthquake|Earthquake]] || £24,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2002|1}} || DR Congo || [[Mount Nyiragongo|Volcano]] || £4,650,000
|-
| {{dts|2002|7}} || Southern Africa || Famine || £16,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2003|8}} || Liberia || [[Second Liberian Civil War|War]] || £2,500,000
|-
| {{dts|2004|7}} || Sudan || [[War in Darfur|War]] || £35,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2004|12}} || Asia || [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Tsunami/Earthquake]] || £392,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2005|8}} || Niger || [[2005–2006 Niger food crisis|Famine]] || £32,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2005|10}} || India and Pakistan || [[2005 Kashmir earthquake|Earthquake]] || £59,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2007|5}} || Darfur and Chad || [[War in Darfur|War]] || £13,600,000
|-
| {{dts|2007|11}} || Bangladesh || [[Cyclone Sidr|Cyclone]] || £9,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2008|5}} || Myanmar (Burma) || [[Cyclone Nargis|Cyclone]] || £19,500,000
|-
| {{dts|2008|11}} || DR Congo || War || £10,500,000
|-
| {{dts|2009|1}} || Gaza || [[Gaza War (2008–2009)|War]] || £8,300,000
|-
| {{dts|2009|10}} || Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam || [[Typhoon Ketsana|Typhoon]]/[[2009 Sumatra earthquakes|Earthquake]]/[[Typhoon Parma|Typhoon]] || £9,300,000
|-
| {{dts|2010|1}} || Haiti || [[2010 Haiti earthquake|Earthquake]] || £107,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2010|8}} || Pakistan || [[2010 Pakistan floods|Floods]] || £71,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2011|7}} || East Africa || [[2011 East Africa drought|Drought/Famine]] || £79,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2013|3}} || Syria || [[Syrian Civil War|War]] || £27,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2013|11}} || Philippines || [[Typhoon Haiyan|Typhoon]] || £96,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2014|8}} || Gaza || [[2014 Gaza War|War]] || £19,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2014|10}} || West Africa || [[2014 Ebola outbreak|Epidemic]] ([[Ebola virus disease|Ebola]]) || £37,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2015|4}} || Nepal || [[April 2015 Nepal earthquake|Earthquake]] || £87,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2016|12}} || Yemen || [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)|War]]/Famine || £30,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2017|3}} || East Africa || [[2017 Somalian drought|Drought/Famine]] || £66,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2017|10}} || Bangladesh (Rohingya from Myanmar) || [[Rohingya persecution in Myanmar (2016–present)|Refugees]]/Genocide || £30,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2018|10}} || Indonesia || [[2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami|Tsunami/Earthquake/Landslide]] || £29,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2019|3}} || Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe || [[Cyclone Idai|Cyclone]] || £43,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2020|7}} || Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, India, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen || [[COVID-19 pandemic|Pandemic]] ([[COVID-19]]) || £62,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2021|12}} || Afghanistan || [[COVID-19]]/[[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)#Humanitarian_crisis|Famine]] || £51,800,000
|-
| {{dts|2022|3}} || Ukraine || [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|War]] || £445,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2022|9}} || Pakistan || [[2022 Pakistan floods|Floods]] || £50,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2023|2}} || Turkey, Syria || [[2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake|Earthquake]] || £160,000,000
|-
| {{dts|2024|10}} || Gaza, Lebanon, West Bank, Syria || [[Gaza war|War]]/Famine || £43,000,000 at {{dts|format=dmy|2025|April|5}} – ongoing
|-
| {{dts|2025|4}} || Myanmar || [[2025 Myanmar earthquake|Earthquake]] || £10,000,000 at {{dts|format=dmy|2025|April|5}} – ongoing
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.dec.org.uk/ Official DEC website]

[[Category:Charities based in London]]
[[Category:Disaster management]]
[[Category:1963 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1963]]

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Disasters Emergency Committee