United Kingdom: The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has initiated an emergency fundraising appeal to support people affected by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
The DEC, which unites 15 leading UK charities including Oxfam, the British Red Cross, and ActionAid, emphasised the overwhelming need for humanitarian aid.
The Middle East Humanitarian Appeal seeks to assist displaced families in Gaza, Lebanon, and the surrounding regions with food, shelter, and medical care. The UK government will match public donations up to £10 million ($12 million), doubling the impact of contributions.
Escalating Crisis
The conflicts, which intensified after the surprise assault by Hamas on 7 October 2023, have left a trail of destruction. Over 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage during the attack on southern Israel. In response, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have resulted in more than 42,000 Palestinian casualties, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
Meanwhile, the violence has extended to Lebanon’s border with Israel, intensifying the humanitarian crisis. Lebanon’s government estimates that 1.2 million people have been displaced, placing immense pressure on shelters and healthcare services.
The DEC highlighted that hospitals across the region are struggling to cope, while essential infrastructure in the West Bank has suffered severe damage, impacting water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Appeal for urgent support
Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive of the DEC, stressed that member charities are already on the ground, delivering aid in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank. However, he warned that additional funds are urgently needed to meet the increasing demand. “The devastation is so severe that hunger and disease are now taking more lives,” Saeed said.
The DEC is also monitoring the situation in Israel, where tens of thousands of people are displaced, pledging to extend support should humanitarian needs arise.
Rachael Cummings, Humanitarian Director at Save the Children, recently returned from Gaza and described the rapidly deteriorating health conditions. “Children are suffering from diarrhoea, jaundice, and respiratory illnesses at alarming rates,” she noted.
Government Support
Minister of State for Development, Anneliese Dodds, emphasised the critical role of charities in delivering aid to vulnerable communities. “This appeal provides essential humanitarian support. That’s why we are matching public donations to ensure we can reach those in desperate need,” Dodds remarked.
The DEC has previously coordinated appeals for other major crises, including the Ukraine conflict and the Turkey-Syria earthquake of 2023. The committee is once again calling on the public to show solidarity, as the need for urgent aid grows in the Middle East.
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