One in four Britons (26%) has made a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Nepal Earthquake Appeal in the two weeks since it launched, according to new research published by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).
The large number of people impacted by the earthquake and the belief that international aid is essential for the disaster are the key drivers for people donating with 55% and 54% respectively citing these reasons for supporting the appeal.
The opinion poll was carried out by Populus on behalf of CAF just before news of a second earthquake broke earlier this week. It found that people aged between 25 and 34 were most likely to have made a donation with 32% in that age group having done so.
Figures released by DEC show that in the first fortnight of the appeal over £50 million has been donated. This compares to £34 million raised during the first 3 months of the DEC Ebola appeal.
Overall, cash has been the most common means of giving by nearly a third (32%) of donors, with online channels being used by 30% of donors and text giving by 22% of donors. 18-24 year olds were the most likely to use online donation with 56% of this age group having done so.
Of those who have donated to the Nepal appeal already, television was the most influential media channel with two-fifths (42%) stating that TV coverage most influenced them to donate. Amongst 18-24 year olds online social networking sites were more influential than television in prompting a donation (31% vs. 16%).
Previous research by CAF has highlighted that people are more willing to donate when an emergency is seen as ‘beyond human control’ (such as an earthquake or tsunami) rather than a humanitarian crisis caused by war or conflict.
The findings are published just days after a second earthquake hit eastern Nepal with early indications of at least 76 people killed and more than 2,000 injured. This follows the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck on 25 April killing over 8,000 and affecting the lives of at least 8 million people.
John Low, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, which helps people and businesses support the causes they care about, said:
“The graphic scenes of devastation from Nepal we have witnessed in the news have been heartbreaking to watch.”
“British people have a proud history of stepping in to help others around the world in a time of need.”
“This research shows that people across the UK are again showing their huge generosity and willingness to support the sterling efforts of charities to support people in need at times of crisis.”