Guernsey to give £50k to earthquake appeal

Guernsey's government has pledged £50,000 to help relief efforts following the earthquake in Myanmar.

The money will be donated to the UK Disasters' Emergency Commitee (DEC) appeal which was launched on Thursday, and aims to help the thousands of people injured and displaced by the quake.

Guernsey's Overseas Aid and Development Commission (OA&DC) decided the DEC was in "the best position to coordinate the funding for the provision of humanitarian aid".

More than 2,800 people are thought to have died and 4,500 injured in the 7.7 magnitude earthquake, with the death toll expected to rise.

The DEC appeal involves 15 UK aid agencies, including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children.

The OA&DC said the earthquake had left more than 19 million people in need of aid, with limited access to safe shelter, food, clean water and medical care.

Deputh Chris Blin, president of the commission, said DEC members were already working in the area.

"The commission will also continue to monitor the situation and is involved in ongoing discussions with charities to see if it can further assist in any way, as the position on the ground becomes clearer," he said.

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