East Africa Appeal – now a DEC appeal

MARLBOROUGH OXFAM SHOP LAUNCHES DEC EAST AFRICA CRISIS APPEAL

We appealing for donations from local people to help the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) raise money for its humanitarian relief efforts  , Kenya and Ethiopia.

The DEC, of which Oxfam is a founding member, today launched the East Africa Crisis Appeal in response to a massive crisis facing more than 10 million people  in East Africa caused by the worst drought in 60 years and soaring food costs.

DEC member agencies including Oxfam are already helping hundreds of thousands of people but urgently need more money to expand this work. 

People in Marlborough can make a donation to the DEC Appeal by:

• Donating at the Marlborough shop
• Visiting www.dec.org.uk
• Texting ‘CRISIS’ to 70000 to donate £5
• Calling 0370 6060900

People in Marlborough have been asking about how they can help people in Ethiopia,Kenya and Somalia at such a terrible time. A cash donation to the DEC appeal is the most effective way to help the emergency relief effort – our customers can pop into the shop to make a donation and do their bit to help today.

Oxfam is unable to send out material donations directly to East Africa, as it is vastly more expensive and inefficient to send goods from the UK rather than source them locally. However, people who want to donate items to help the humanitarian relief effort should still take donations of books and music to Oxfam shop, as the funds raised from their sale allows the charity to continue saving lives around the world.

The Disasters Emergency Committee – a group of the 14 leading UK aid agencies including Oxfam  – launched a joint appeal for funds from the UK public on Thursday 6 July. To make a donation to the DEC East Africa Crisis appeal visit http://www.dec.org.uk or donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque – see details below.

Oxfam’s emergency response comes at a time when donations to its shops have declined by 10 per cent in the last 12 months as a result of the recession. More than 80 per cent of Oxfam’s total income from its shops comes from donations from the public of clothes, books, music, homewares and other goods.

• To make a postal donation make cheques payable to ‘DEC EastAfricaCrisis Appeal’ and mail to ‘PO Box 999,London, EC3A 3AA’.   
• Text “CRISIS” to 70000 to give £5 to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal. £5 goes to the DEC. You pay £5 plus the standard network SMS rate.
• The DEC consists of: Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Plan, Save the Children, Tearfund, World Vision.

East Africa food crisis – appeal launched

Oxfam have launched an emergency appeal to raise money for the drought-plagued regions of East Africa, where large areas are facing the world’s worst food crisis. Following successive failed rains crops have failed in many regions, and the price of staple foods has risen to unaffordable levels. Oxfam are in the most affected countries of Kenya, Ethiopa and Somalia providing emergency water and other aid for those affected by the droughts. Oxfam’s work in Ethiopa alone is set to reach 700,000 people.

So every penny counts. You can make donations for this appeal online here. We can also take donations in the shop. Cash, credit/debit card and cheques are all accepted for donations.

More information and updates on the situation can be found at the Oxfam Website