Latest news with #Commonwealth&DevelopmentOffice
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Scottish nurse saw dead toddler rushed into Gaza hospital
Mel Graham, 50, from Elderslie, recounted her harrowing experiences in Gaza, where she was stationed for two months. The Glasgow Royal Infirmary intensive care unit nurse was working at a UK Government-funded emergency field hospital in Al Mawasi when the ceasefire ended. Mel said: "I was in Gaza last year and didn't think it could possibly get any worse… but it has. "The first night the ceasefire shattered was easily the worst thing I have ever experienced. "Even though we knew it was coming, it was still such a shock. 'The sound of explosions and fighting were so close to the hospital, so we knew we were going to be busy. "At maybe two or three in the morning the first casualties started coming in. "It was a conveyor belt of carnage." Read more: Activists surround police van at Glasgow pro-Palestine protest Mel worked in a emergency field hospital (Image: Supplied) During the overwhelming night, Mel was responsible for triaging patients, one of whom was a two-year-old girl, brought in dead on arrival. Mel said: "There wasn't a mark on her and I just remember standing there thinking how can this happen? "She looked completely perfect and was just covered in a thick layer of dust. "The shockwave had fatally affected her tiny wee lungs. 'The porters went to get a body bag for her, but the shortage of aid getting in meant there were only adult body bags available. "She just disappeared into it. 'We took her to the temporary mortuary at the back of the hospital. "We put two chairs out for the family to come in… but no-one ever came." The image of the young girl remains vivid in Mel's memory. She said: "The sight of that little girl will haunt me forever. "It is the thing that I think about most. "It's at the forefront of my brain. "It is not natural for a child to die like that. 'I didn't want to leave her there alone, but I had to get back to help the many other casualties who had been rushed in.' Mel was part of the team at one of the UK Government-funded field hospitals, operated by UK-Med, which has so far provided care for more than 400,000 patients during the ongoing crisis. Read more: Gaza protest march to take place in Glasgow this weekend Mel was part of the team at one of the UK Government-funded field hospitals, operated by UK-Med (Image: Supplied) The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has pledged £129 million in aid for the 2024–25 financial year to support humanitarian relief in Gaza. Mel, who has also completed two deployments to conflict-hit Ukraine, said the situation in Gaza was far beyond anything she'd previously experienced. She said: "Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure I was going to make it out. "That's how scary it was. "I'm a bit embarrassed to say that because the people in Gaza are experiencing that 24/7, 365 days a year. "I was working with people who've been working in the aid sector for over 30 years and every one of them said Gaza is just the worst thing they've ever seen. "It is hell on earth." Since returning to Scotland, Mel has found solace in spending time with her family — especially her two-and-a-half-year-old nephew, Hunter. She added: "Hunter has been getting extra tight cuddles since I returned to Scotland. "He keeps me very busy and that's good for me because quiet moments are difficult because things I experienced in Gaza kind of flash into your brain. "He is lucky he has his whole life ahead of him, unlike that poor little baby I saw who had been killed in Gaza." Mel's account adds to the growing body of testimony from healthcare workers and humanitarian staff detailing the devastating human toll of the conflict, which has reportedly killed over 50,000 people and displaced more than 90 percent of Gaza's population.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Family of Glasgow man missing in Portugal in CCTV plea
Greg Monks was last seen after leaving the main strip in Albufeira in the Algarve region after a night out between the evening of May 27 and the early hours of May 28. The 38-year-old had arrived in the resort town on Tuesday, May 27, for a stag do and has not been seen now for four days. Jillian Monks, Greg's sister, posted an updated plea on Facebook last night. The family is appealing for home camera or doorbell footage from the Cerro de Aguia area between 2am and 5am on May 28. Jillian noted that police believe Greg was in this area around this time. The post reads: "Hi all, thank you for all the information and shares, we truly appreciate it. There have still been no sightings and no updates at present. "I am now seeking help from the residents of the Cerro de Aguia area to please check any home cameras or doorbell footage from between 2am and 5am, as police believe he was in the area around this time. "Please share this if you know anyone in the area. Anyone who has cameras that cover streets or parts of streets, please send me a message. "Thank you all for the support." READ NEXT: Fundraiser launched for family of missing Glasgow man Members of Greg's family have flown out to Portugal to help search for him. We previously reported that a family friend had set up a GoFundMe page to support them. It has so far raised more than £14,000. A statement published on the page reads: 'I have been asked by the family to set this up. Our son Greg Monks, 38, went to Portugal for a stag do on Tuesday, May 27. 'On their first night out, our son Greg never returned to his hotel and has now been reported missing for three days. 'We are desperately seeking Greg's safe return and need your help. There are professional search teams out looking for Greg, and the family have all flown out to try and help find him, but they don't know how long their stay will be. 'They are doing everything they can. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference in our efforts to bring Greg home. 'Thank you for your support and prayers.' Greg's family say his disappearance has been reported to the police, the hotel where he was staying, and the British Embassy in Portugal. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office previously said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities'. The GoFundMe page can be viewed HERE.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Fundraiser launched for family of missing Glasgow man
Greg Monks was last seen leaving the main strip in Albufeira in the Algarve region after a night out between the evening of May 27 and the early hours of May 28. The 38-year-old had arrived in the resort town on Tuesday, May 27, for a stag do. He has not been seen now for three days, and his family say it is 'not like him to do this'. Members of Greg's family have since flown out to Portugal to help search for him. Following this, a family friend has set up a GoFundMe page to support them. It has so far raised more than £5000. READ NEXT: Search for Glasgow man who disappeared in Portugal A statement published on the page reads: 'I have been asked by the family to set this up. Our son Greg Monks, 38, went to Portugal for a stag do on Tuesday, May 27. 'On their first night out, our son Greg never returned to his hotel and has now been reported missing for three days. 'We are desperately seeking Greg's safe return and need your help. There are professional search teams out looking for Greg, and the family have all flown out to try and help find him, but they don't know how long their stay will be. 'They are doing everything they can. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference in our efforts to bring Greg home. 'Thank you for your support and prayers.' We previously reported that Greg's disappearance had been reported to police, the hotel where he was staying, and the British Embassy in Portugal by his family. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities'. The GoFundMe page can be viewed HERE.
STV News
3 days ago
- STV News
Family fly out to join search for Scot who disappeared on stag do in Portugal
The family of a Scottish man who disappeared after a night out in Portugal have flown out to join the search to find him. Greg Monks was last seen leaving the main strip in the resort town of Albufeira in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The 38-year-old from Glasgow had arrived on Tuesday night as part of a stag do and was on a night out with friends. Greg told the group he was leaving around 2am to return to his accommodation. Facebook Greg Monks was last seen in the popular resort of Albufeira on Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning leaving the strip. Facebook He has not been seen since and his family say his disappearance is 'not like him'. Members of his family have now flown out to aid the search, with a GoFundMe page set up to help with costs. His sister, Jillian Monks, said his disappearance had been reported to local police. She said on Facebook this week: 'My brother is missing in Albufeira and has not been seen since Tuesday night/Wednesday morning anyone who is there or has any information please message. 'Feel free to share on platforms. Reported to police and hotel and embassy. 'Please any information we are desperate – not like him to do this.' A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities'. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Search for Glasgow man who disappeared in Portugal
Greg Monks was last seen leaving the main strip in Albufeira in the Algarve region on Tuesday evening. The 38-year-old is said to have arrived in the resort town on the same night, STV reports. He has not been seen since, and his family say it is 'not like him to do this'. In a post on Facebook, Greg's sister Jillian Monks said: 'My brother is missing in Albufeira and has not been seen since Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. 'Anyone who is there or has any information, please message. Feel free to share on platforms. He is 38 years old. 'This has been reported to the police, the hotel, and the embassy. Please share any information. "We are desperate – it is not like him to do this.' A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities'.
