Leader of the opposition Ed Miliband visited the DEC today as the umbrella body for the UK's leading aid agencies announced its East Africa Crisis Appeal had raised £27m.
Mr Miliband was briefed on the crisis by DEC Chair Clive Jones and Chief Executive Brendan Gormley. To help the DEC promote its text to give service Mr Miliband texted GIVE to 70000 to give £5. So far £500,000 has been raised by text to give, a new record for the DEC.
Drought, inflation, chronic poverty and conflict have led to a declaration of famine in two regions of Somalia with other areas expected to follow without urgent action.
This is the worst drought in 60 years in parts of East Africa with more than 10 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and the newly-formed Republic of South Sudan left in need of food, water and emergency healthcare.
Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee Brendan Gormley said:
"We are grateful to Ed Miliband for his support and for helping us to promote our incredibly successful text to give service for the East Africa Crisis.
"This is the first famine of the 21st century - a century which should never have known famine. People are dying today in Somalia for the lack of food and water. Our member agencies are in Somalia and the surrounding countries. They can save lives but they need the public's continuing support."
Malnutrition (GAM) has reached 50% in some areas of Somalia. A level of 15% is considered an emergency, with 30% or more being one of the indicators of famine. More than six children under five per 10,000 are dying each day in these.
Ten of the 14 agencies that make up the DEC are working in Somalia directly or through partners, including in some cases in the south or centre of the country.
To make a donation to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal visit:
http://www.dec.org.uk, call the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque. You can also donate £5 by texting the word GIVE to 70000.
Stay up to date with developments in East Africa, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts with the DEC on twitter: http://twitter.com/decappeal or become a fan of 'Disasters-Emergency-Committee-DEC' on Facebook.
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Notes to editors:
· PA have copy, pictures and video of the visit available.
· The DEC member agencies are: ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Plan UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.
· DEC agencies already working directly or through partners in Somalia include: ActionAid (Somaliland), British Red Cross, CARE International UK (Somaliland and Puntland), Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision.
· To make a postal donation make cheques payable to 'DEC and mail to 'PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA'.
· Donations can be made at any high street bank.
· Donate at a Post Office by quoting Freepay 1562.
· To donate £5 by text send the word CRISIS to 70000. The full £5 will go to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal. Donors must be 16 years or over and have bill payers permission. Texts are free and donations will be added to the bill.
