The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) announced today that £12m has been raised towards the Ebola Crisis Appeal since its launch last Thursday. 

More than £2m of that sum was raised in the last 24 hours and £6m was raised in the first 24 hours of the campaign.

Contributions include £5m from the government’s Aid Match scheme that doubled every penny raised, up to the first £5m. They also include a “generous donation” from HRH Prince of Wales.

Funds from the public were raised through text, phone and web donations.

Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said: “We have been humbled by the extraordinary generosity of the UK public in response to our unprecedented appeal for the Ebola crisis in West Africa, and want to thank each and every person who has given.

“We are also extremely grateful for the kind support of the UK Government for the aid match funding which has been a significant boost to the appeal.

“Our member agencies have already achieved so much– providing protective clothing, educating communities and supporting safe and dignified burials – but there is so much more to do.”

DEC announced on Friday that money raised will go towards increasing support to workers and volunteers burying the thousands of victims.

Almost 5,000 people have died since the start of the Ebola outbreak and the World Health organisation has warned that up to 10,000 people a week could become infected by December unless measures are taken to prevent the spread of the disease.

DEC member agencies are scaling up their aid efforts in West Africa to reach some of the worst affected areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Some 2.5 million people are currently affected by the Ebola crisis.