International Rescue Committee UK to join DEC
Melanie May | 6 September 2021 | News
The International Rescue Committee UK has joined the Disasters Emergency Committee to become its 15th member.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) brings together leading UK aid charities when large-scale disasters hit countries without the capacity to respond. The collaboration helps the charities raise funds quickly and efficiently to help ensure that emergency relief reaches the people that need it most.
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International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) mission is to “help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future”. The charity has a long track record of responding to humanitarian crises, and works in over 40 countries around the world.
IRC UK acts as the IRC’s hub in Europe with a mission to “raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and significantly increase funding to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and reclaim control of their future”.
Melanie Ward, UK Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee said:
“It is an honour for IRC UK to become a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. This comes at a critical time when the devastating combination of conflict, economic turmoil caused by Covid, and climate change is seeing an increase in humanitarian needs globally, and a record number of displaced people. We are looking forward to working together on protecting and rebuilding lives through effective humanitarian response. Coming together with the incredible organisations that are members of DEC will make our shared humanitarian efforts stronger and our impact greater.”
DEC Chair Sue Inglish said:
“We’re delighted to welcome International Rescue Committee UK as our newest member charity. IRC UK will enhance our collective expertise in responding to refugee and displacement crises, and their work supporting people affected by conflict will be a great asset to the DEC. IRC works in many of the toughest and most fragile places in the world and will help DEC appeals reach even more people in need, while also helping mobilise the generosity of the British public and raise funds in response to the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.”
Since launch, DEC appeals have included the Nepal Earthquake Appeal in 2015, 2017’s East Africa Crisis Appeal, and most recently its Coronavirus Appeal, which is funding work in eight countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, and India.
Members of the Disasters Emergency Committee
The DEC’s 15 member charities are:
- Action Against Hunger
- ActionAid UK
- Age International
- British Red Cross
- CAFOD
- CARE International UK
- Christian Aid
- Concern Worldwide UK
- International Rescue Committee UK
- Islamic Relief Worldwide
- Oxfam GB
- Plan International UK
- Save the Children UK
- Tearfund
- World Vision UK.
More on DEC and IRC
- Game of Thrones cast in International Rescue Committee appeal (18 March 2016)
- Disasters Emergency Committee launches emergency appeal for people fleeing Myanmar (4 October 2017)
- Ken Burnett joins DEC board (15 November 2012)
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.