British aid agencies continue to appeal for Pakistan

The Disasters Emergency Committee has announced today that their appeal for people affected by the Pakistan floods has raised £15 million.

The DEC consists of Action Aid, Age UK, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.

DEC chief executive Brendan Gormley commented: “Funds are continuing to pour in thanks to the generosity of the British public, but with the Pakistani Government’s announcement that 20 million people are now affected, the need is growing."

He continued: "With floodwaters now spreading in the Sindh province, and hundreds more villages being flooded, the situation for millions of people in Pakistan is worsening. We are also very concerned about the report of a cholera case in the Swat Valley."

“DEC member agencies have already reached over 600,000 people on the ground but understandably, given the scale of the disaster, access to some areas remains challenging. We need continuing support to help save lives,” explained Gormley.

The disaster has already claimed the lives of 1,600 people.

The DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal is separate from the pledges being sought by the United Nations which is hoping to secure funds from governments worldwide.

A summary of all other DEC Member Agency efforts can be found at: http://www.dec.org.uk/item/441

To make a donation to the DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal, call the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, visit http://www.dec.org.uk or donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque. You can also donate £5 by texting the word GIVE to 70707 – see details below.

Those wanting to stay up to date with developments in Pakistan, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts can follow the DEC on twitter at http://twitter.com/decappeal or become a fan of ‘Disasters-Emergency-Committee-DEC’ on Facebook.

[Ekk/3]