# DEC marks 50 years of emergency appeals

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/07/02/dec-marks-50-years-of-emergency-appeals/
- Published: 2013-07-02T12:22:34+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is marking this 50th anniversary this year.
Tonight ITV will broadcast a document about the organisation, which has launched
63 appeals, raised £1.1 billion and helped provide emergency aid to tens of millions
of people around the world.

The DEC was formed on 18 December 1963 to co-ordinate overseas aid and went on to
launch its first appeal in response to the August 1966 earthquake in Varto, eastern
Turkey.  Since it was founded the DEC has launched 63 appeals, raised 1.1 billion
pounds and helped provide aid to tens of millions of people around the world.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

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> “For 50 years the Disasters Emergency Committee has done monumental work and I
> am delighted to sign-up and pledge that this government will continue to support
> you.  You’ve been able to do all this because of the extraordinary generosity 
> of the British people.  A generosity that means millions around the world have
> lived who otherwise would have died.”

DEC Chairman Clive Jones said:

 

> “The history of the DEC is one of extraordinary collaboration between major aid
> agencies, British broadcasters and blue chip companies.  Ultimately though, all
> our collective achievements are really just a product of the staggering generosity
> of the UK public.  This is above all their story and we want to take this opportunity
> to thank them for their extraordinary support.
> “The DEC was unique when it was founded because of the way it brought a whole 
> nation together when there is a major overseas emergency. We are pleased to say
> that since then it is a model that has been admired and copied around the world.”

The documentary about the DEC is entitled ‘A Very British Appeal’ and it will be
broadcast on ITV at 10.35pm tonight.  The documentary team had unprecedented access
inside the DEC during the run up to the Syria Crisis Appeal and also filmed on location
in Haiti.

 * **[£33 million donated to DEC Philippines Typhoon appeal in first week](https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/11/16/33m-donated-dec-philippines-typhoon-appeal-first-week/)**(
   16 November 2013)
 * **[DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal reaches £65 million](https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/11/27/dec-philippines-typhoon-appeal-reaches-65m/)**(
   27 November 2013)
 * **[£6 million donated by mobile to DEC Philippines Typhoon appeal](https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/11/28/6m-donated-mobile-dec-philippines-typhoon-appeal/)**(
   28 November 2013)