Skip to content
CAFOD
Donate
Search

Disasters Emergency Committee

What is the Disasters Emergency Committee?

When large-scale crises hit countries overseas, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) brings together 15 leading UK aid charities - including CAFOD - to raise funds quickly and efficiently.

DEC member charities

  • Action Against Hunger

  • ActionAid

  • Age International

  • British Red Cross

  • CAFOD

  • Care International

  • Christian Aid

  • Concern Worldwide

  • International Rescue Committee

  • Islamic Relief

  • Oxfam

  • Plan International

  • Save the Children

  • Tearfund

  • World Vision

We only appeal when we know we can help

These are the three key questions the DEC asks:

  1. Does the scale and urgency of the disaster call for decisive action?

  2. Are member agencies in a position to provide effective and swift humanitarian assistance?

  3. Will the public support us?

What the DEC has achieved so far

The DEC has launched 76 appeals raising more than £1.7 billion since its launch in 1963 – helping to save millions of lives and rebuild communities devastated by disasters.

Three examples of how the money has helped

  • After Cyclone Idai, DEC funds enabled member charities to distribute seeds and tools to 190,000 people to help them start growing food again in the first six months.

  • DEC members staged a wide range of interventions in the Rohingya refugee camps using DEC appeal funds, including providing food to 350,000 people in the first six months.

  • The 2017 East Africa Appeal helped prevent widespread famine and allowed DEC charities to reach 2.5 million people in the first six months.

To find all the latest information about the Disasters Emergency Commitee visit the DEC website.