NI public raises almost £100k for Yemen aid in 24 hours

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) in Northern Ireland, which brings together the British Red Cross, Concern Worldwide, Save the Children and Tearfund, has been reaching millions across the country with lifesaving aid, food, medicine, clean water and health services.

Peter Anderson, spokesperson for the Disasters Emergency Committee in Northern Ireland, said:

“The response to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen once again shows how generous the Northern Ireland public is and we are very grateful for their donations to date.

“The TV and radio appeals, broadcast last night, highlighted the desperate situations families are facing as they choose between food or medicine for their starving children.

“The scale of need is huge and ongoing, therefore it is vital fundraising continues. Support from the Northern Ireland public and throughout the UK can reduce the suffering by children and families as conflict continues in Yemen.”

Two thirds of the population – around 18 million people – urgently need humanitarian support after two years of war have brought the country, already one of the poorest in the world, to breaking point. More than 7 million people do not know where their next meal will come from and children are dying from malnutrition.

Across the UK £5 million has been raised since the appeal launched yesterday (Tuesday), made up of £3 million given by the UK public by text, phone and online, and £2 million from the UK government through AidMatch.

To make a donation to the DEC Yemen Crisis Appeal visit: www.dec.org.uk, call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque. You can also donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000. What your money could buy:

• £25 could provide a month’s supply of life-saving peanut paste to a malnourished child 
• £60 could provide clean drinking water for two families for a month 
• £100 could provide supplies to a clinic treating severely malnourished children for a week 

ENDS

For more information contact Sharon Whittaker on 07547535119

• The DEC in Northern Ireland brings four of the 13 DEC member aid charities together: British Red Cross, Concern Worldwide, Save the Children and Tearfund.