Unicef is due to receive a boon from Everything Everywhere mobile customers as the operator launches an appeal for the charity’s East Africa crisis work.

Everything Everywhere, which comprises T-Mobile and Orange, will ask its customers for a £5 text donation to Unicef’s East Africa appeal. The mobile operator, the biggest in the country, is Unicef’s emergency response partner.

Once a donor has given via text, the appeal will encourage them to share information via social media in order to get more people giving.

At the latest tally, released on Monday, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) had raised £45m for its cross-charity East Africa Crisis appeal. Unicef is not part of the DEC.