Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)

ActionAid is a member charity of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) - an umbrella organisation made up of 15 leading UK aid charities. In times of large-scale humanitarian crisis, we come together to raise money to help people most affected by disasters.

The other 14 DEC member charities are Action Against Hunger, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, Plan UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.

Since the DEC’s launch in 1963, they have run 73 appeals and raised more than £1.7 billion, saving millions of lives and rebuilding communities devastated by disasters – from earthquakes to hurricanes, civil war to health crises.

A proportion of the money raised through DEC appeals comes to ActionAid to help us deliver our life-saving humanitarian response. 

Working with the DEC allows us to reduce costs, maximise our reach and operate in a coordinated and mutually supportive way. To find out more about the DEC, and the criteria for launching appeals, go to the DEC website.

DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

In March 2022 we launched a DEC appeal to respond to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, where heavy fighting, shelling and air strikes across Ukraine have had devastating consequences.

More than half a million people have fled the Ukraine to escape the conflict, arriving at the borders of Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova. Hungry, exhausted, and traumatised, people are in urgent need of food, water, and shelter.

DEC charities and their local partners are in Ukraine and across the border in neighbouring countries. They are working to meet all people’s immediate needs including food, water, medical assistance, protection, and trauma care.

Donate to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal now