The Disasters Emergency Committee will extend its Syria Crisis Appeal for an unprecedented additional six months after raising £25m in its first year of fundraising, it announced today.

The DEC Syria Crisis Appeal was launched nearly a year ago on 21 March 2013 and tomorrow marks three years since the date many take to be the start of the civil war.

The Disaster Emergency Committee had hesistated in launching Syria Crisis, even after nine of its 14 members launched their own appeals. 

Nearly £12m has been donated to DEC itself as a result of its appeal, while £13m has been given directly to its member agencies.

Of the appeal funds spent so far, over half has paid for basic support - food, water and sanitation - while more than a quarter of the rest paid for emergency shelter and healthcare.

Difficulties regarding access and security have meant that in order to keep increasing the flow of aid into Syria itself, many agencies are making very effective use of the capacity of both long-standing and established partners within the country. Some agencies have formed new partnerships with organisations which have access where they do not.

Typically DEC appeal fundraising remains open for six months but because of the exceptional situation in Syria, the DEC has taken the decision to extend the fundraising period until at least the end of March 2015.

Member agencies will continue to provide aid using DEC funds until March 2015 and most will continue work beyond that date so long as funding from other sources remains available.