As public donations to the DEC Syria Crisis Appeal reached £5 million, Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, has called on the people of Wales to keep digging deep and donate to help the millions in need in the war torn country.
First Minister, Carwyn Jones said:
“Last week the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Cymru launched an appeal for people affected by the conflict in Syria. People in Wales have always shown generosity to DEC appeals in the past and I hope that this urgent call for assistance will see a similar response.
“This crisis is so huge it is hard to comprehend. Over five million people have been affected by the fighting in Syria, with three million people having to flee their homes through no fault of their own. The number of refugees leaving the country has increased from 1,000 a day at the beginning of the year to over 8,000 a day.
“I urge the people of Wales to get behind this appeal and show support to help the millions of people affected by the conflict.”
The 14 leading UK charities that are the DEC’s members will use the funds in Syria and the neighbouring countries, to which over one million refugees have fled. The money that has come in since the first appeals were broadcast on Thursday will enable the DEC members to provide more vital aid such as food, clean water, emergency shelter and medical care.
Fundraising will continue for the DEC Syria Crisis Appeal as the fighting intensifies and the number of people fleeing their homes and the country continues to increase. There are huge and urgent unmet needs, both in Syria and the surrounding countries, as civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.
Chair of DEC Cymru, Julian Rosser, said:
“The Welsh public have shown great generosity and a clear willingness to help the many Syrians who have been forced to leave their homes. The humanitarian crisis inside Syria is a catastrophe and it is vitally important that we continue to fundraise as the needs of the people are immense.
“We are dealing with a volatile and constantly changing situation on the ground: families face great challenges as they flee to neighbouring countries and the fighting inside Syria is making the delivery of aid there very difficult – but not impossible.”
The DEC Syria Crisis Appeal was launched on Thursday, 21 March with appeals from former Welsh rugby captain Gwyn Jones, actor Rufus Sewell as well as actor, writer, comedian and broadcaster Michael Palin, journalist John McCarthy and actress Juliet Stephenson.