# Disasters Emergency Committee launches emergency appeal for people fleeing Myanmar

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/10/04/dec-launches-emergency-appeal-people-fleeing-myanmar/
- Published: 2017-10-04T00:01:45+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Thirteen charities have launched a joint fundraising appeal to help the hundreds
of thousands of people fleeing their homes in Myanmar who are in urgent need of 
shelter, medical care, water and food. **

The charities are members of the [Disasters Emergency Committee](http://www.dec.org.uk)(
DEC). They are responding to the movement by more than half a million people, mostly
Rohingya women and children, who have sought refuge in Bangladesh from violence 
in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.  

The DEC are asking the public to donate to help the charities support both the people
fleeing Myanmar and their host communities in Bangladesh. The charities are already
delivering emergency aid in Bangladesh.  The funds raised by the appeal will enable
them to expand their humanitarian support to reach more people in urgent need.
The
DEC Emergency Appeal is launching today and will be shown on all major UK broadcasters
including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. 

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> We have launched an Emergency Appeal for people fleeing violence in Myanmar. Donate
> now at [https://t.co/Mp7s7URj72](https://t.co/Mp7s7URj72) [#myanmar](https://twitter.com/hashtag/myanmar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [pic.twitter.com/KUBHvjX3Ui](https://t.co/KUBHvjX3Ui)
> — DEC (@decappeal) [October 4, 2017](https://twitter.com/decappeal/status/915483894283108352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 DEC Chief Executive, Saleh Saeed, said: “This is one of the fastest movements 
of people we have seen in recent decades. “Families are living in makeshift shelters
or by the side of the road with no clean drinking water, toilets or washing facilities.
This humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in a country that is already reeling 
from the worst floods in decades. “Without urgent support, the risk of disease and
further misery is alarmingly high.” 

## Oxfam in Bangladesh

Oxfam is one of the DEC member charities providing support:

 

## Matched giving

The UK Government will match pound for pound the first **£3 million** donated by
the public to the DEC Emergency Appeal. 

Donations to the DEC Emergency Appeal can be made:

 * [online](http://www.dec.org.uk/)
 * via the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 610
 * over the counter at any high street bank or post office
 * by cheque
 * by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000 (to donate £5). 

## TV appeals

Writer and comedian Michael Palin presented the DEC appeal on the BBC:

 and actor and writer Riz Ahmed presented the DEC appeal on ITV:

 

## WATCH: The story of disaster relief

  **[Disasters Emergency Committee launches emergency appeal for people fleeing Myanmar](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/10/04/dec-launches-emergency-appeal-people-fleeing-myanmar/)(
  4 October 2017)**
  **[Ken Burnett joins DEC board](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/11/15/ken-burnett-joins-disasters-emergency-committee-board/)(
  15 November 2012)**
  **[International Rescue Committee becomes 15th member of Disasters Emergency Committee](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/09/06/international-rescue-committee-uk-to-join-dec/)(
  6 September 2021)**