Latest news with #DisastersEmergencyCommittee
The National
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
John Swinney announces extra £300,000 in aid for Middle East conflicts
The money will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal and two Scottish charities, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (Sciaf) and the Mercy Corps, to help continue their efforts in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria. While international aid is usually a reserved matter for Westminster, the Scottish Government established a £1 million yearly Humanitarian Assistance Fund in 2017 to help charities respond to emergencies around the world. The announcement was made as MSPs held a debate on 'the international situation' at Holyrood. READ MORE: Douglas Ross threatened with expulsion amid row over 'shushing SNP minister' The First Minister, Swinney (below), said: 'I'm pleased to announce a contribution of £240,000 through our Humanitarian Emergency Fund to the Disasters Emergency Committee's appeal for the Middle East, along with £30,000 each for Scottish charities Sciaf and Mercy Corps for their responses in Lebanon and Syria. 'This is in addition to the £250,000 that we provided to this appeal last November and comes at a time when humanitarian needs continue to increase across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria. 'I believe that wherever we can, we do what is within our power to de-escalate and support recovery from disaster and conflict in our deeply interconnected world. 'Investing in the wellbeing of the international community is also an investment in our national wellbeing and security and I make no apology for doing so in these turbulent times.'
Sky News
03-04-2025
- General
- Sky News
Emergency appeal launched for Myanmar as more than 2,800 killed in earthquake
An emergency appeal has been launched after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake which struck Myanmar last week. More than 2,800 people were killed by the quake and its aftershocks on Friday, with thousands more injured and buildings in the worst hit areas in ruins. It is thought the actual number of dead could be much higher. Today, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has launched an appeal to raise funds for those impacted. DEC charities and local partners are already in Myanmar to assist with search and rescue efforts, as well as provide emergency aid. 2:19 Saleh Saeed, committee chief executive, said the devastation from the earthquake "is heart-breaking, with thousands of people suddenly losing loved ones in the most shocking of ways". He said Myanmar was "already in the grip of a severe humanitarian crisis" in the wake of the 2021 military coup, and now "the situation is ever more critical". "We know that money is tight for many people here in the UK as the cost-of-living crisis continues, but if you can, please do donate to support the hundreds of thousands of people, children and families caught up in this deadly disaster," he added. 2:19 Arif Noor, country director of CARE International in Myanmar, added that emergency relief teams "are witnessing complete devastation everywhere we go". "People traumatised by the earthquake are sleeping on the streets, with no clean water or food to eat and nowhere to escape from the heat," he said. "They simply don't know where to turn or where to find safety." It comes after a local in Mandalay - Myanmar's second biggest city - told Sky News that "when we pass near the destructions, the collapsed building or very damaged building, we can smell" dead bodies. "The smell of the dead bodies after four days... it still remains," he said, before adding: "For the social assistance association... they need permission [to give aid] especially from the government. "If they don't have permission, then they cannot do anything." Broadcast appeal films to raise funds to support the charities' responses will air on Sky later today, as well as on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. Every pound donated by the British public will be matched by the government through its UK Aid Match scheme, up to the value of £5 million.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK charities launch Myanmar Earthquake Appeal
The UK's Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is launching an appeal to help the thousands of people injured and displaced as a result of last week's powerful earthquake which struck Myanmar and the wider region. Made up of 15 UK aid agencies, including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children, the DEC is asking the British public for donations before the monsoon season arrives in two months. More than 2,800 people have died and more than 4,500 have been injured, according to the leaders of Myanmar's military government, with figures expected to rise. The charities say shelter, medicine, food, water and cash support is "urgently needed". Baroness Chapman, minister for development, said public donations to the DEC appeal would be matched pound-for-pound by the government, up to the value of £5m. DEC's chief executive Saleh Saeed said the situation was "ever more critical." "Funds are urgently needed to help families access life-saving humanitarian aid following this catastrophe," he said. Multiple international aid agencies and foreign governments have dispatched personnel and supplies to quake-hit regions. Inside Mandalay: BBC visits makeshift hospital treating earthquake victims in Myanmar Myanmar was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis before the 7.7 magnitude earthquake due to the ongoing civil war there, with the DEC estimating a third of the population is in need of aid. The country has been gripped by violence amid the conflict between the junta - which seized power in a 2021 coup - and ethnic militias and resistance forces across the country. On Wednesday, Myanmar's military government announced a temporary ceasefire lasting until 22 April, saying it was aimed at expediting relief and reconstruction efforts. Rebel groups had already unilaterally declared a ceasefire to support relief efforts earlier this week, but the military had refused to do the same until Wednesday's announcement. Aid workers have come under attack in Myanmar. On Tuesday night, the army opened fire at a Chinese Red Cross convoy carrying earthquake relief supplies. Nine of the charity's vehicles came under attack. The UN and some charities have accused the military junta of blocking access. The US Geological Survey's modelling estimates Myanmar's death toll could exceed 10,000, while the cost in damages to infrastructure could surpass the country's annual economic output. Roads, water services and buildings including hospitals have been destroyed, especially in Mandalay, the hard-hit city near the epicentre. In Thailand, at least 21 people have died. The Red Cross has also issued an urgent appeal for $100m (£77m), while the UN is seeking $8m in donations for its response. "People urgently require medical care, clean drinking water, tents, food, and other basic necessities," the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said on Monday. The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to provide and deliver aid to ensure successful appeals. The appeal will be broadcast on the BBC and other media outlets throughout Thursday. Myanmar quake: Imam's grief for 170 killed as they prayed in Sagaing 'We still have hope': Searching for quake survivors in Mandalay
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
DEC: UK charities launch Myanmar Earthquake Appeal
The UK's Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is launching an appeal to help the thousands of people injured and displaced as a result of last week's powerful earthquake which struck Myanmar and the wider up of 15 UK aid agencies, including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children, the DEC is asking the British public for donations before the monsoon season arrives in two than 2,800 people have died and more than 4,500 have been injured, according to the leaders of Myanmar's military government, with figures expected to charities say shelter, medicine, food, water and cash support is "urgently needed". Baroness Chapman, minister for development, said public donations to the DEC appeal would be matched pound-for-pound by the government, up to the value of £ chief executive Saleh Saeed said the situation was "ever more critical.""Funds are urgently needed to help families access life-saving humanitarian aid following this catastrophe," he international aid agencies and foreign governments have dispatched personnel and supplies to quake-hit regions. Inside Mandalay: BBC visits makeshift hospital treating earthquake victims in Myanmar Myanmar was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis before the 7.7 magnitude earthquake due to the ongoing civil war there, with the DEC estimating a third of the population is in need of country has been gripped by violence amid the conflict between the junta - which seized power in a 2021 coup - and ethnic militias and resistance forces across the Wednesday, Myanmar's military government announced a temporary ceasefire lasting until 22 April, saying it was aimed at expediting relief and reconstruction efforts. Rebel groups had already unilaterally declared a ceasefire to support relief efforts earlier this week, but the military had refused to do the same until Wednesday's workers have come under attack in Myanmar. On Tuesday night, the army opened fire at a Chinese Red Cross convoy carrying earthquake relief supplies. Nine of the charity's vehicles came under attack. The UN and some charities have accused the military junta of blocking access. The US Geological Survey's modelling estimates Myanmar's death toll could exceed 10,000, while the cost in damages to infrastructure could surpass the country's annual economic water services and buildings including hospitals have been destroyed, especially in Mandalay, the hard-hit city near the Thailand, at least 21 people have died. The Red Cross has also issued an urgent appeal for $100m (£77m), while the UN is seeking $8m in donations for its response."People urgently require medical care, clean drinking water, tents, food, and other basic necessities," the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said on DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to provide and deliver aid to ensure successful appeal will be broadcast on the BBC and other media outlets throughout Thursday.
The Independent
28-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Charles and Camilla make second donation to Middle East humanitarian appeal
The King and Queen have made a second undisclosed donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee's (DEC) Middle East Humanitarian Appeal. The appeal is supporting those impacted by conflict across Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and Syria and has now passed £40 million. Saleh Saeed, the DEC's chief executive, said: 'Their Majesties the King and Queen's continued support for the DEC and our appeals highlights their ongoing commitment to addressing the world's most urgent humanitarian crises. 'The levels of need in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and Syria are incredibly high, and every donation to the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal is helping our charities and their local partners to reach more people with lifesaving support. 'We are incredibly grateful for the UK public's extraordinary generosity.' The DEC has said over the past weeks its member charities and their local partners have been working to adapt their responses in Gaza, to support some of the hundreds of thousands of people who have returned to their communities in the north and urgently need support. The organisations are providing access to clean water, distributing hygiene kits, hot meals, warm clothing and bedding, and supporting families with medical care and specialist mental health support. The King and Queen were among the first to donate to the appeal at its launch last October and their latest financial support follows a humanitarian reception they hosted at Buckingham Palace last Thursday celebrating those working in the sector. The day before the King privately met the chief executive officers of the 15 DEC charities to hear about the challenges they are facing responding to some of the world's most urgent humanitarian crises.
