DEC Darfur and Chad Crisis Appeal raises £2m on first night

25 May 2007

More than two million pounds has been pledged since the DEC’s Darfur and Chad Crisis Appeal had its national televised launch yesterday evening.

Donations have been rushing in to fund the work of international aid agencies who are responding in Darfur, Chad and the Central African Republic, where 4.5 million people are affected by the ongoing conflict and now face worsening conditions as the impending rains bring the threat of disease.

Fame Academy presenter Claudia Winkleman, who answered phones at BT tower as the appeal was launched, said: “The appeal is off to a fantastic start, raising £2 million on the first night. The British Public have already shown great compassion for those affected by this crisis and have responded with tremendous generosity. What is going on in Darfur and Chad is a humanitarian disaster and it has to be stopped.”

DEC Chief Executive Brendan Gormley, said: “I have been moved by the outpouring of generosity from the British Public. DEC agencies are doing all we can to respond to real human suffering on the ground right now and need to scale up our response before the rains arrive. Please continue giving generously so we can save more lives”

The average donation is £50 – enough to buy 100 chlorine tablets which will provide clean safe drinking water for 5,000 people or 21 mosquito nets that will protect more than 60 children and their parents from malaria.

Donations can be made via the DEC website – www.dec.org.uk, by calling the 24-hour donations phone line – 0870 60 60 900 – and by cheques to
PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA. Donations can also be made at high street banks and post offices.

ENDS 
    
Notes to Editors:
Photos of Claudia Winkleman answering the telephones at BT tower during the appeal are available via Save the Children’s online photo library on the following link: www.savethechildren.captureweb.co.uk

For more information please contact:
Broadcast: 0207 255 9114 or
Print: 0207 255 9113 or
Out of hours: 07930 999 014

The DEC member agencies taking part in the appeal are British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.