Royal Relief: King and Queen Boost Myanmar Earthquake Appeal

 

The King and Queen have made a generous donation to the UK’s Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal, which is urgently raising funds to support those affected by the devastating earthquake in Myanmar. On the first day alone, the appeal amassed £7.5 million, with the UK Government pledging to match public donations pound for pound up to £5 million through its UK Aid Match scheme.

The DEC—a coalition of 15 UK aid agencies including the British Red Cross, Oxfam, and Save the Children—has been working tirelessly to provide life-saving aid, as thousands in Myanmar remain injured, displaced, or trapped in the ruins of collapsed buildings. With more than 3,100 reported deaths and over 4,500 injured, the scale of the disaster has compounded an already dire humanitarian crisis intensified by the ongoing civil war.

Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, praised the public’s remarkable generosity. “The stories we are hearing from survivors are harrowing. Children have lost their families and countless lives have been upended. Your donations mean we can deliver immediate help and reach more people in desperate need,” he said.

Meanwhile, as the humanitarian response gains momentum, the military junta in Myanmar continues to complicate rescue efforts by launching air strikes—even after agreeing to a temporary ceasefire to allow relief access. UN rights chief Volker Turk urged all military operations to halt immediately to enable unhindered humanitarian aid delivery.

In a rare diplomatic move, junta leader Gen Min Aung Hlaing met with Indian and Thai prime ministers at the Bimstec summit in Bangkok, signaling a potential shift toward resolving the ongoing conflict through diplomacy. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi even called for a permanent truce, emphasizing that a political solution through inclusive and credible elections is the only path forward.

The royal donation, alongside widespread public support, underscores a growing global commitment to help Myanmar rebuild and recover from this tragedy.