Actor Adrian Lester has lent his support to the The Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Ukraine appeal by presenting the appeal on the BBC, to help those forced to flee their homes amid escalating conflict in Ukraine. Broadcast on Thursday 4th March, the DEC’s appeal raised £100 million pounds in just 4 days.
More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine in the first week of the war and many more have been displaced inside the country due to intense fighting.
Inside Ukraine homes have been destroyed, essential infrastructure such as water supplies, hospitals and schools have been hit. People are being forced to hide in shelters and metro stations to stay safe.
As a result, hundreds of thousands of people are crossing borders into Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova, triggering a large-scale humanitarian crisis.
The DEC brings together 15 leading aid charities at times of crisis overseas. Thirteen of these are responding in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries who have taken in refugees. DEC charities responding include British Red Cross, ActionAid and Save the Children.
Appeals to raise funds to support this work will be broadcast on the BBC by actor Adrian Lester, star of Trigger Point, Hustle and Life, and on ITV Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky by Kit Harrington, star of Game of Thrones and Marvel film Eternals, following the evening news. Commercial radio appeals will be voiced by actor David Tennant, star of Dr Who, Staged and Broadchurch.
DEC charities and their local partners are in Ukraine and across the border in the neighbouring countries, working to meet the immediate needs of all people fleeing with food, water, medical assistance, protection and trauma care.
Every pound donated by the UK public will be matched by the UK government through its Aid Match scheme up to the value of £20 million. This support will double the impact of the public’s own donations and will ensure that charities working on the ground can reach those in urgent need.
How to donate:
- Online: dec.org.uk
- Phone: 0370 60 60 900
- SMS: To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70150. Texts cost £10 plus the standard network charge and the whole £10 goes to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer’s permission. For full terms and conditions and more information go to www.dec.org.uk
- Or donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office or send a cheque by post to Post: DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA.