Disasters Emergency Committee
{{Short description|Group of UK charities}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is an umbrella group{{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}} of UK charities{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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.
The DEC is a registered charity (charity no: 1062638){{Cite web|url=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1062638&SubsidiaryNumber=0|title=Charity overview|access-date=2017-10-09}} 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 earthquake in Turkey in 1966.{{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}}
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,{{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}}
Between January and July 2010, the DEC appealed for donations following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, raising a total of £107 million.{{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}}
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.{{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}} This decision was the object of considerable controversy within the BBC{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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.{{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}}
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.{{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}} Similarly, a pledge to match public donations up to £20 million was made by the UK Government in 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite web |url=https://www.dec.org.uk/ |title=Key facts|access-date= 3 March 2022}}
In 2024, an attempted DEC appeal for humanitarian aid to address the Gaza humanitarian crisis during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip was delayed by the BBC, reportedly due to fear of supporters of Israel.{{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}}
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.{{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}}
On 29 March 2022, Concert for Ukraine took place at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham and it aired on ITV. It was presented by Capital FM presenter Roman Kemp, Marvin Humes and Emma Bunton. 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:{{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}}
{{Flatlist|* ActionAid
List of DEC appeals
Recent{{cite web |url=http://www.dec.org.uk/appeals/ |title=Appeals |website=Disasters Emergency Committee |accessdate=23 March 2017}} and archive{{cite web |url=http://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/appeals-archive |title=Appeals Archive |website=Disasters Emergency Committee |accessdate=23 March 2017}} DEC appeals.
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Date | Location | Appeal reason | Amount raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| {{dts|1966|8}} | Turkey | Earthquake | £560,000 |
| {{dts|1967|6}} | Middle East | War | £160,000 |
| {{dts|1968|2}} | Vietnam | War | £360,000 |
| {{dts|1968|9}} | Iran | Earthquake | £210,000 |
| {{dts|1968|11}} | Nigeria | War | £240,000 |
| {{dts|1969|10}} | Algeria and Tunisia | Floods | £90,000 |
| {{dts|1969|11}} | Yugoslavia | Earthquake | £60,000 |
| {{dts|1970|3}} | Turkey | Earthquake | £370,000 |
| {{dts|1970|6}} | Peru | Earthquake | £230,000 |
| {{dts|1970|6}} | Romania | Floods | £110,000 |
| {{dts|1970|11}} | East Pakistan (Bangladesh) | Cyclone | £1,490,000 |
| {{dts|1971|6}} | India and Pakistan | War | £1,420,000 |
| {{dts|1972|12}} | Nicaragua | Earthquake | £340,000 |
| {{dts|1973|10}} | Ethiopia and the Sahel | Drought | £1,540,000 |
| {{dts|1974|9}} | Honduras | Hurricane | £350,000 |
| {{dts|1976|2}} | Guatemala | Earthquake | £1,300,000 |
| {{dts|1979|9}} | Indo-China | War | £560,000 |
| {{dts|1979|11}} | India | Cyclone | £870,000 |
| {{dts|1980|6}} | East Africa | Drought | £6,100,000 |
| {{dts|1982|3}} | Central America | War | £430,000 |
| {{dts|1982|7}} | Lebanon | War | £1,030,000 |
| {{dts|1983|3}} | Ethiopia | Famine | £1,970,000 |
| {{dts|1984|6}} | Africa | Famine | £9,520,000 |
| {{dts|1984|10}} | Ethiopia | Famine | £5,250,000 |
| {{dts|1985|5}} | Bangladesh | Cyclone | £1,400,000 |
| {{dts|1987|6}} | Mozambique | War/Drought | £2,480,000 |
| {{dts|1987|12}} | Ethiopia | Famine | £2,690,000 |
| {{dts|1988|8}} | Sudan | Floods | £8,890,000 |
| {{dts|1988|9}} | Bangladesh | Floods | £5,810,000 |
| {{dts|1988|9}} | Caribbean | Hurricane | £1,000,000 |
| {{dts|1989|12}} | Ethiopia | Famine | £10,240,000 |
| {{dts|1990|9}} | Gulf | War | £3,490,000 |
| {{dts|1991|1}} | Africa | £7,930,000 | |
| {{dts|1991|5}} | Bangladesh | 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 | War | £2,600,000 |
| {{dts|1994|5}} | Rwanda | War/Genocide | £37,000,000 |
| {{dts|1998|5}} | Sudan | Famine | £10,500,000 |
| {{dts|1998|9}} | Bangladesh | Floods | £5,500,000 |
| {{dts|1998|11}} | Central America | Hurricane | £18,500,000 |
| {{dts|1999|4}} | Kosovo | War | £53,000,000 |
| {{dts|1999|11}} | India | Cyclone | £7,000,000 |
| {{dts|2000|3}} | Mozambique | Floods | £30,000,000 |
| {{dts|2001|2}} | India | Earthquake | £24,000,000 |
| {{dts|2002|1}} | DR Congo | Volcano | £4,650,000 |
| {{dts|2002|7}} | Southern Africa | Famine | £16,000,000 |
| {{dts|2003|8}} | Liberia | War | £2,500,000 |
| {{dts|2004|7}} | Sudan | War | £35,000,000 |
| {{dts|2004|12}} | Asia | Tsunami/Earthquake | £392,000,000 |
| {{dts|2005|8}} | Niger | Famine | £32,000,000 |
| {{dts|2005|10}} | India and Pakistan | Earthquake | £59,000,000 |
| {{dts|2007|5}} | Darfur and Chad | War | £13,600,000 |
| {{dts|2007|11}} | Bangladesh | Cyclone | £9,000,000 |
| {{dts|2008|5}} | Myanmar (Burma) | Cyclone | £19,500,000 |
| {{dts|2008|11}} | DR Congo | War | £10,500,000 |
| {{dts|2009|1}} | Gaza | War | £8,300,000 |
| {{dts|2009|10}} | Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam | Typhoon/Earthquake/Typhoon | £9,300,000 |
| {{dts|2010|1}} | Haiti | Earthquake | £107,000,000 |
| {{dts|2010|8}} | Pakistan | Floods | £71,000,000 |
| {{dts|2011|7}} | East Africa | Drought/Famine | £79,000,000 |
| {{dts|2013|3}} | Syria | War | £27,000,000 |
| {{dts|2013|11}} | Philippines | Typhoon | £96,000,000 |
| {{dts|2014|8}} | Gaza | War | £19,000,000 |
| {{dts|2014|10}} | West Africa | Epidemic (Ebola) | £37,000,000 |
| {{dts|2015|4}} | Nepal | Earthquake | £87,000,000 |
| {{dts|2016|12}} | Yemen | War/Famine | £30,000,000 |
| {{dts|2017|3}} | East Africa | Drought/Famine | £66,000,000 |
| {{dts|2017|10}} | Bangladesh (Rohingya from Myanmar) | Refugees/Genocide | £30,000,000 |
| {{dts|2018|10}} | Indonesia | Tsunami/Earthquake/Landslide | £29,000,000 |
| {{dts|2019|3}} | Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe | Cyclone | £43,000,000 |
| {{dts|2020|7}} | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, India, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen | Pandemic (COVID-19) | £62,000,000 |
| {{dts|2021|12}} | Afghanistan | COVID-19/Famine | £51,800,000 |
| {{dts|2022|3}} | Ukraine | War | £445,000,000 |
| {{dts|2022|9}} | Pakistan | Floods | £50,000,000 |
| {{dts|2023|2}} | Turkey, Syria | Earthquake | £160,000,000 |
| {{dts|2024|10}} | Gaza, Lebanon, West Bank, Syria | War/Famine | £43,000,000 at {{dts|format=dmy|2025|April|5}} – ongoing |
| {{dts|2025|4}} | Myanmar | Earthquake | £10,000,000 at {{dts|format=dmy|2025|April|5}} – ongoing |
References
{{Reflist}}