Exeter residents give £84,000 to Ebola appeal

Generous locals from Exeter have given £84,000 to an appeal set up by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to help those affected by the deadly Ebola crisis.

The DEC, which is made up of 13 leading UK aid charities, said they were humbled to see how the UK public have responded to such an unprecedented crisis, which is devastating communities across West Africa. A total of £14 million has been raised since the appeal launched on Thursday last week.

DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said: “The people of Exeter have been incredibly generous and I want to thank each and every one of those who have donated for their kind support. This money will help us continue to deliver aid to millions who have been affected by the deadly Ebola outbreak.”

“DEC member agencies are helping to combat Ebola in various ways, from supporting survivors and arranging safe burials to distributing hygiene kits and sharing information to help prevent the spread of this deadly disease.”

“This outbreak is not only a health crisis, but a humanitarian disaster, which could have serious repercussions across the world. We’re deeply concerned about the longer term impact of the crisis on health systems and the fact that many people have lost their means of making a living.  It’s crucial therefore that we continue to receive generous donations, so we can not only help save lives now but also help rebuild lives for the future.”

A donation of £25 will help protect three families from Ebola by providing them with cleaning kits including bleach, soap and buckets. £50 can provide basic protective clothing such as gloves, masks, boots and gowns for three volunteers providing support to people under quarantine.

To make a donation to the DEC Ebola Crisis Appeal visit http://www.dec.org.uk, call the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque.

You can also donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.