The United Kingdom of Great Britain was able to raise a total of 23 million pounds (roughly P1.61 billion) through the efforts of the Disaster Emergency Committee or D.E.C. British celebrities and artists also joined the nationwide appeal of the British to donate for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.
Fil-British Singer Myleene Kl(–foul word(s) removed–) on DEC Appeal
Some of the celebrities who made an appeal to the British are Spice Girls member Victoria ‘Posh’ Beckham, British-Pinay singer Myleene Kl(–foul word(s) removed–) and many more celebrities of British origins aside from the Filipino communities living in England.
In just a span of 48 hours, the D.E.C. was able to raise 23 million pounds or roughly P1.61 billion for their appeal. Aside from the donations gathered by the British, the government who have already deployed one Royal Navy’s ship, HMS Daring to the devastated provinces of the Philippines to aid in the relief efforts.
The D.E.C., an umbrella body of 14 British charities stated that the amount raised by the British Public was unprecedented, and eclipse the total collected in the first 24 hours of the east Africa crisis, Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods appeals.
Chief Executive of the D.E.C, Saleh Saeed, was quoted as saying “People have given so generously in such a short space of time,” said Saeed. The officer added further that, “They have obviously been moved by the heartbreaking stories coming out of the Philippines of those struggling to survive.” Saeed stated.
Mr Saeed said much of the donated money will go towards paying for work by emergency teams on the ground to provide basic essentials.
The British Government have already pledge a total of 10 million pounds, but the government confirmed that they will match the public donation which already reached 5 million pounds earlier, putting the British national government aid to 15 million pounds in total.