DONATIONS from Echo readers for the mammoth aid effort in the Philippines now total more than £13,000.

Just 10 days since the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo joined forces with the Disasters Emergency Committee the response from generous readers has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Donations have been pouring into Echo offices in Bournemouth, Poole, Wey-mouth and Dorchester as readers of both papers do their best to help.

The cash – including a whopping mystery donation of £5,000, as reported yesterday – is already winging its way to where it needs to be.

As of yesterday, the total given by cheque had gone past £13,000. The figure is on top of cash donated via phone, text and online.

That is enough to buy more than 500 packs of water purification tablets that will help 10 families for a month, or enough to feed 260 families for two weeks.

It would also provide emergency shelter and bedding for 130 families.

Toby Granville, Group Editor of the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo, said: “The response so far from our readers has been incredible.

“Cheques have been flooding in, ranging from £5 to the hugely-generous mystery donation of £5,000.

“Every one is on its way to helping those left in desperate need by the devastating typhoon that has hit the Philippines.

“Thank you for all your amazing generosity so far – and please keep those cheques coming. Every little bit helps save lives.”

The Disasters Emergency Committee, which encompasses all of the UK major aid agencies, launched an urgent appeal for help in the wake of the typhoon.

The 145mph Typhoon Haiyan – said to be the strongest ever to make landfall – rendered roads impassable and airports out of action.

Shelter packs have been distributed by the Royal Navy as part of its efforts to supply aid to areas devastated by the typhoon.

The packs, supplied by the Department for International Development, contain four family-sized kits and nearly 1,000 litres of fresh drinking water for people who have been left without shelter because of the storm.

TO make a donation, you can send a cheque made payable to ‘DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal’ to the Daily Echo offices at Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, BH2 6HH or the Dolphin Centre, Poole, BH15 1SZ.
Alternatively, visit http://www.
dec.org.uk, call the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900 or donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office.
You can also donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.