The Disasters Emergency Committee has today launched an appeal for the Ebola Crisis in West Africa – the first in its 50 year history made in response to a disease outbreak.
Appeals will be aired tomorrow by the main UK broadcasters, but donations are already being taken by the DEC online and via its 24 hour donation hotline.
The DEC, a coalition of 13 leading UK aid charities, said it was launching the appeal because the Ebola crisis was no long a medical emergency, but threatened to become a humanitarian catastrophe. The spread of Ebola is "ripping apart health services, devastating communities and destroying people’s ability to support themselves", the DEC said.
Member agencies, including Save the Children and the British Red Cross, have already launched Ebola emergency appeals and are working to stop the spread of the disease.
Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said: “This appeal is completely unprecedented and that is a sign of just how serious the situation in West Africa has become. In its 50 year history the DEC has launched appeals for humanitarian disasters caused by floods, famines, earthquake, typhoons, and countless conflicts. We have never run an appeal in response to a disease outbreak – until today.
“In West Africa today we are seeing a disease create not just a medical crisis but a humanitarian emergency. Without urgent action to stop the spread of Ebola and to help those affected by the crisis, parts of West Africa face catastrophe within 60 days.”
The DEC appeal asks for £5 text donations as well as making tangible asks, such as £25 to provide cleaning kits for three families at risk of Ebola, and £100 to provide training for a community on how to help stop the spread of the disease.
As well as all major UK broadcasters, the appeal will also be supported by other major DEC partners including ITN, BT, Post Office and Royal Mail.
The World Health Organisation has said that nearly 5,000 people have died, and more than 10,000 have been infected with Ebola since the start of the year. But the real numbers could be up to three times higher. This is the deadliest outbreak of Ebola since the disease was discovered in 1976.
DEC member agencies will, among other things, work to safely dispose of bodies of the dead to prevent the spread of infection, and protect orphans and unaccompanied children whose families have been affected by the disease.
The DEC’s previous appeal was to provide humanitarian relief in Gaza. It had raised £17m as of last month.
