THE support of Scots has been highlighted by the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) with over £4 million raised for its Middle East appeal so far.
That amount is part of a UK-wide £46m total that the charity has said is “keeping hopes alive” in the region.
“The generosity and the support of the public in Scotland and beyond for our partners and people in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in the Gaza strip, can’t be understated,” Katie Roxburgh, Christian Aid's programme manager for the Middle East, said.
“I've been told by our partners that it's keeping them alive and keeping their hope alive.”
With extremely limited supplies entering Gaza, DEC charities and their local partners are working tirelessly to meet some basic needs in the ways they are still able to.
During the first six months of the DEC-funded response, between October 2024 and April 2025:
- More than 440,000 ready to eat meals were distributed
- Over 390,000 people benefitted from improved access to drinking water
- Over 109,000 people gained improved access to healthcare, including the distribution of medicine and provision of primary healthcare services
- More than 22,000 people were reached with cash assistance
Roxburgh added that the charity’s partners are “really thankful and would encourage you to give more support if you can. With more funds we are able to do more, that is clear.”
She added: “We’ll be able to secure more stock, more food, more medical equipment, and we'll be able to reach more people for a longer period of time. So, we definitely still welcome donations and would be very grateful for further support.”
To donate to the DEC's appeal, visit https://donation.dec.org.uk/middle-east-appeal
