Britons respond in their droves to DEC Nepal appeal allowing partner agencies to help over 87,000 survivors

A massive £38 million has been raised by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Nepal Appeal since it launched last week.

It means its 13 member charities have been able to reach an estimated 87,000 people in need in the devastated country.

And the cash means the organisations, which include the UK’s biggest aid charities, will be able to reach out to more survivors as the death toll steadily rises and more people become displaced.

Most of the funding has come from the British public with £5m matched funding coming from the UK government.

Our teams have been able to reach a large number of people in just a few days but there is so much more to do

Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said: “One week on and the response by the UK public continues to amaze me, we are extremely grateful for their generosity and quick action.

“The funds mean we are able to increase the humanitarian response and despite immense challenges, aid is getting through to more and more people who desperately need it.

“Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the British public, our teams have been able to reach a large number of people in just a few days but there is so much more to do.”

The 7.8 magnitude quake struck at midday on 25 April but agencies continue to warn a lack of shelter, contaminated water and poor sanitation are hampering aid efforts.