Latest news with #SalehSaeed
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
King and Queen give ‘generous' donation to UK's Myanmar earthquake appeal
The King and Queen are among those who have donated to the UK's Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal to help people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. The appeal raised £7.5 million on the first day and donations from the public are being matched pound for pound by the UK Government up to £5 million, as part of its UK Aid Match scheme. Made up of 15 UK aid agencies – including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children – the DEC issued an urgent appeal for funds to help the thousands injured and displaced. The DEC said the total included a 'generous' donation from the King and Queen, who are regular supporters. More than 3,100 people have died so far in Myanmar and more than 4,500 have been injured, according to Myanmar's military government. Saleh Saeed, the chief executive of the DEC, said: 'We are extremely grateful to all the people who have already donated to the DEC Myanmar earthquake appeal. 'Once again, the UK public have shown their immense generosity and desire to help those impacted by disasters. 'The stories we are now hearing from the survivors who have managed to escape the ruins of flattened buildings are harrowing. 'Children have lost their families. Thousands have suffered life-changing injuries. Countless more have had their homes and possessions destroyed. 'Life-saving aid is already being delivered by member charities using funds donated to the DEC. But we can reach more people, families and children with your donations. If you are able – please help.' The earthquake that hit last Friday has exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis caused by the country's civil war. The UN said on Friday that the military had launched dozens of strikes over the past week, even after the junta joined its opponents on Wednesday in calling a temporary halt to hostilities for relief to be delivered. 'There have been 16 reports, credible reports, of air strikes ongoing in different parts of the country, including areas impacted by the earthquakes, since the ceasefire went into effect on April 2,' James Rodehaver, the head of the UN rights office's Myanmar team, said. It said it had received reports of more than 60 attacks in total carried out by the military since the earthquake. Volker Turk, the UN rights chief, called in a statement for the truce to be honoured by allowing humanitarian and rescue workers immediate and unrestricted access to all those in need. 'I urge a halt to all military operations, and for the focus to be on assisting those impacted by the quake, as well as ensuring unhindered access to humanitarian organisations that are ready to support,' he said. 'I hope this terrible tragedy can be a turning point for the country towards an inclusive political solution.' Min Aung Hlaing, the country's ostracised junta leader, met the prime ministers of India and Thailand at a regional summit called Bimstec in Bangkok on Friday. Shunned by most world leaders since leading a 2021 coup that overthrew an elected government, Gen Hlaing's rare foreign trip exploits a window opened by the earthquake to ramp up diplomacy. On the sidelines of Bimstec, Gen Hlaing had two-way meetings with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Thai premier, and Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister. An Indian foreign ministry spokesman said Mr Modi had called for the truce to be made permanent. 'Political resolution to the conflict is the only way forward, starting with inclusive and credible elections,' Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesman, said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
King and Queen give ‘generous' donation to UK's Myanmar earthquake appeal
The King and Queen are among those who have donated to the UK's Disaster Emergency Committee's (DEC) appeal to help people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. The appeal raised £7.5 million on the first day and donations from the public are still being matched pound for pound by the UK government up to £5 million, as part of its UK Aid Match scheme. Made up of 15 UK aid agencies – including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children – the DEC issued an urgent appeal for funds to help the thousands injured and displaced. The DEC said the total includes a 'generous' donation from the King and Queen, who are regular supporters. More than 3,100 people have died so far in Myanmar and more than 4,500 have been injured, according to the leaders of Myanmar's military government. The DEC's latest fundraising announcement comes after television and radio appeals aired on Thursday calling for support. Saleh Saeed, the chief executive of the DEC, said: 'We are extremely grateful to all the people who have already donated to the DEC Myanmar Earthquake Appeal. 'Once again, the UK public have shown their immense generosity and desire to help those impacted by disasters. 'The stories we are now hearing from the survivors who have managed to escape the ruins of flattened buildings are harrowing. 'Children have lost their families. Thousands have suffered life-changing injuries. Countless more have had their homes and possessions destroyed. 'Life-saving aid is already being delivered by member charities using funds donated to the DEC. But we can reach more people, families and children with your donations. If you are able – please help.' The earthquake that hit last Friday has exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis caused by the country's civil war. The UN said on Friday that the military had launched dozens of strikes over the past week, even after the junta joined its opponents on Wednesday in calling a temporary halt to hostilities for relief to be delivered. 'There have been 16 reports, credible reports, of airstrikes ongoing in different parts of the country, including areas impacted by the earthquakes, since the ceasefire went into effect on April 2,' James Rodehaver, the head of the UN rights office's Myanmar team, said. It said it had received reports of more than 60 attacks in total carried out by the military since the earthquake. Volker Turk, the UN rights chief, called in a statement for the truce to be honoured by allowing humanitarian and rescue workers immediate and unrestricted access to all those in need. 'I urge a halt to all military operations, and for the focus to be on assisting those impacted by the quake, as well as ensuring unhindered access to humanitarian organisations that are ready to support,' he said. 'I hope this terrible tragedy can be a turning point for the country towards an inclusive political solution.' The country's ostracised junta leader Min Aung Hlaing met the prime ministers of India and Thailand at a regional summit called Bimstec in Bangkok on Friday. Shunned by most world leaders since leading a 2021 coup that overthrew an elected government, Gen Hlaing's rare foreign trip exploits a window opened by the earthquake to ramp up diplomacy. On the sidelines of Bimstec, Gen Hlaing had two-way meetings with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Thai premier, and Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister. An Indian foreign ministry spokesman said Mr Modi had called for the truce to be made permanent. 'Political resolution to the conflict is the only way forward, starting with inclusive and credible elections,' Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesman, said.
Saudi Gazette
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
UK charities launch Myanmar Earthquake Appeal
LONDON — 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 international aid agencies and foreign governments have dispatched personnel and supplies to quake-hit 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 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 of the charity's vehicles came under attack. The UN and some charities have accused the military junta of blocking US Geological Survey's modeling 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 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. — BBC
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
