The Company of Master Jewellers is inviting its members and the entire jewellery and watch community to contribute to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Michael Aldridge, chairman of the Company of Master Jewellers says he hopes the whole jewellery and watch industry will get behind efforts to raise £50,000 that will be used to support vital disaster relief efforts in the region.
“As we have all seen in the horrifying news reports, a series of devastating earthquakes has hit southern Turkey and north-west Syria. The death toll from the disaster has already reached more than 17,000, although officials fear this could rise much, much more in the coming days and weeks.
“While our thoughts are with everyone affected by this disaster, we want to do something as a group that will get help – quickly – to the victims – those people have been left without shelter in freezing winter conditions and desperately need blankets, emergency shelter, food and clean water,” he urges.
The Disasters Emergency Committee brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently at times of crisis overseas.
Pooling their resources to work as one, the DEC is pivotal in co-ordinating the UK public’s response to overseas disasters, getting aid to people who need it, fast.
The UK Government will match pound-for-pound up to £5m donated to the DEC appeal.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so via the Company of Master Jewellers’ JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/page/cmj-earthquake.
