The Disasters Emergency Committee today announced that their appeal for people affected by the Pakistan floods has raised £33m.

This follows DEC Chief Executive Brendan Gormley’s announcement yesterday (23 August) that this was the first DEC appeal in its history where donations rose rather than fell during the second week of an appeal.

Brendan Gormley said:

"The response by the UK public to this appeal has been extraordinary.   They are responding to a catastrophe they can see unfolding in the media day by day.

"People’s continuing generosity means member agencies are already getting assistance to those who need it most.  800,000 people have been reached so far, but millions still need help.

“Quite simply, the scale of the disaster is beyond our worst nightmares. An area the size of England has been flooded, and it is vital that people continue to give if we are to help save more lives."

The disaster has already claimed the lives of 1,600 people and is estimated to have affected 20 million people.