King and Queen give ‘generous' donation to UK's Myanmar earthquake appeal
The appeal raised £7.5 million on the first day and donations from the public are still being matched pound for pound by the UK government up to £5 million, as part of its UK Aid Match scheme.
Made up of 15 UK aid agencies – including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children – the DEC issued an urgent appeal for funds to help the thousands injured and displaced.
The DEC said the total includes a 'generous' donation from the King and Queen, who are regular supporters.
More than 3,100 people have died so far in Myanmar and more than 4,500 have been injured, according to the leaders of Myanmar's military government.
The DEC's latest fundraising announcement comes after television and radio appeals aired on Thursday calling for support.
Saleh Saeed, the chief executive of the DEC, said: 'We are extremely grateful to all the people who have already donated to the DEC Myanmar Earthquake Appeal.
'Once again, the UK public have shown their immense generosity and desire to help those impacted by disasters.
'The stories we are now hearing from the survivors who have managed to escape the ruins of flattened buildings are harrowing.
'Children have lost their families. Thousands have suffered life-changing injuries. Countless more have had their homes and possessions destroyed.
'Life-saving aid is already being delivered by member charities using funds donated to the DEC. But we can reach more people, families and children with your donations. If you are able – please help.'
The earthquake that hit last Friday has exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis caused by the country's civil war.
The UN said on Friday that the military had launched dozens of strikes over the past week, even after the junta joined its opponents on Wednesday in calling a temporary halt to hostilities for relief to be delivered.
'There have been 16 reports, credible reports, of airstrikes ongoing in different parts of the country, including areas impacted by the earthquakes, since the ceasefire went into effect on April 2,' James Rodehaver, the head of the UN rights office's Myanmar team, said.
It said it had received reports of more than 60 attacks in total carried out by the military since the earthquake.
Volker Turk, the UN rights chief, called in a statement for the truce to be honoured by allowing humanitarian and rescue workers immediate and unrestricted access to all those in need.
'I urge a halt to all military operations, and for the focus to be on assisting those impacted by the quake, as well as ensuring unhindered access to humanitarian organisations that are ready to support,' he said.
'I hope this terrible tragedy can be a turning point for the country towards an inclusive political solution.'
The country's ostracised junta leader Min Aung Hlaing met the prime ministers of India and Thailand at a regional summit called Bimstec in Bangkok on Friday.
Shunned by most world leaders since leading a 2021 coup that overthrew an elected government, Gen Hlaing's rare foreign trip exploits a window opened by the earthquake to ramp up diplomacy.
On the sidelines of Bimstec, Gen Hlaing had two-way meetings with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Thai premier, and Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister.
An Indian foreign ministry spokesman said Mr Modi had called for the truce to be made permanent.
'Political resolution to the conflict is the only way forward, starting with inclusive and credible elections,' Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesman, said.
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