Latest news with #DisasterEmergencyCommittee
The National
5 days ago
- Health
- The National
Healthcare in Gaza facing 'catastrophe' amid food shortages
Dr Alaa Al-Sharif, an emergency physician at a hospital in Gaza City, said food shortages in the region were impacting on doctors' abilities to treat patients – with more than 100 people presenting injuries every day. It comes as the amount raised by Scots for the Disaster Emergency Committee's (DEC) Middle East Humanitarian Appeal has reached £4.1 million. The funds go directly to charity partners in the region, with a portion also going towards aid efforts in the West Bank and Lebanon. READ MORE: Why I'm wearing this simple T-shirt to my Edinburgh Festival events The DEC is a UK-based organisation bringing together 15 leading aid charities working to provide humanitarian assistance. Huw Owen, from the DEC in Scotland, told The National: "The situation in Gaza right now is catastrophic. "DEC charities and their incredible local staff and partners are doing everything they can in unimaginably dire conditions to deliver whatever support is possible, but it's clear that the need for safe and sustained access for humanitarian aid has never been more urgent." Owen added: "Despite the enormous challenges, donations to the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal are making a difference to people in desperate need of aid, and we're incredibly grateful to people across Scotland for their continued support for our work." Money raised from the appeal has helped to rehabilitate medical facilities such as the Al-Saraya field hospital in Gaza City – run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society – including the provision of 100 oxygen cylinders to support emergency response and respiratory care. Doctors in Gaza have repeatedly warned of the immense challenges they are facing trying to treat people with limited access to resources. Dr Alaa Al-Sharif, an emergency physician at the Al-Saraya Field Hospital, said patients were having to lie on the ground for treatment due to a lack of beds. (Image: Aya Matrabie / Fairpicture / DEC) He also said that food shortages – caused by Israel's blockade on Gaza – were having an immense impact on the hospital staff and their ability to care for patients. Al-Sharif said: "The situation is no secret, it is catastrophic. "All hospitals, whether here or elsewhere, don't have enough beds, so patients are forced to lie on the ground. READ MORE: 'Disgusting' vandalism of Scottish Unesco heritage site condemned "Whether they're on a mattress or not, we're forced to treat them on the floor, administering medication and examining them while they lie there." Al-Sharif added that doctors are seeing no fewer than 100 injuries every 24 hours. Om Salman, whose son is currently at the Al-Saraya Field Hospital, said her family was in a "hopeless situation". (Image: Aya Matrabie / Fairpicture / DEC) Her son Salman was injured three weeks ago when he went out to buy falafel for his children. He was shot in the neck, with the bullet damaging his spinal cord, causing complete paralysis. "He can't move his legs, hands, or anything at all," Salman said. "My son needs care, food and water. I swear to God, here in Gaza we can barely get a bite of food let alone access treatment. "We are in a hopeless situation. My son's daughter is eight or nine years old, and she looks like a skeleton, every bone in her body is visible." She added: "It's due to lack of nutrition. There is no food, no water, nothing available to eat." The names of Om and her son have been changed to protect their identities. You can click here to donate to the DEC's Middle East Humanitarian Appeal.
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Myanmar appeal raises £7.5 million on day one with donations from King and Queen
The King and Queen are among those who have donated to the UK's Disaster Emergency Committee's (DEC) appeal to help people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. The appeal raised £7.5 million on the first day and donations from the public are still being matched pound for pound by the UK government up to £5 million, as part of its UK Aid Match scheme. Made up of 15 UK aid agencies – including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children – the DEC issued an urgent appeal for funds to help the thousands injured and displaced. The DEC said the current appeal total includes a 'generous' donation from Charles and Camilla, who are regular supporters of DEC appeals. More than 3,100 people have died so far in Myanmar and more than 4,500 have been injured, according to the leaders of Myanmar's military government. The DEC's latest fundraising announcement comes after television and radio appeals aired on Thursday calling for support. Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said: 'We are extremely grateful to all the people who have already donated to the DEC Myanmar Earthquake Appeal. 'Once again, the UK public have shown their immense generosity and desire to help those impacted by disasters. 'The stories we are now hearing from the survivors who have managed to escape the ruins of flattened buildings are harrowing. 'Children have lost their families. Thousands have suffered life-changing injuries. Countless more have had their homes and possessions destroyed. 'Life-saving aid is already being delivered by member charities using funds donated to the DEC. But we can reach more people, families and children with your donations. If you are able – please help.'
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
King and Queen give ‘generous' donation to UK's Myanmar earthquake appeal
The King and Queen are among those who have donated to the UK's Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal to help people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. The appeal raised £7.5 million on the first day and donations from the public are being matched pound for pound by the UK Government up to £5 million, as part of its UK Aid Match scheme. Made up of 15 UK aid agencies – including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children – the DEC issued an urgent appeal for funds to help the thousands injured and displaced. The DEC said the total included a 'generous' donation from the King and Queen, who are regular supporters. More than 3,100 people have died so far in Myanmar and more than 4,500 have been injured, according to Myanmar's military government. Saleh Saeed, the chief executive of the DEC, said: 'We are extremely grateful to all the people who have already donated to the DEC Myanmar earthquake appeal. 'Once again, the UK public have shown their immense generosity and desire to help those impacted by disasters. 'The stories we are now hearing from the survivors who have managed to escape the ruins of flattened buildings are harrowing. 'Children have lost their families. Thousands have suffered life-changing injuries. Countless more have had their homes and possessions destroyed. 'Life-saving aid is already being delivered by member charities using funds donated to the DEC. But we can reach more people, families and children with your donations. If you are able – please help.' The earthquake that hit last Friday has exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis caused by the country's civil war. The UN said on Friday that the military had launched dozens of strikes over the past week, even after the junta joined its opponents on Wednesday in calling a temporary halt to hostilities for relief to be delivered. 'There have been 16 reports, credible reports, of air strikes ongoing in different parts of the country, including areas impacted by the earthquakes, since the ceasefire went into effect on April 2,' James Rodehaver, the head of the UN rights office's Myanmar team, said. It said it had received reports of more than 60 attacks in total carried out by the military since the earthquake. Volker Turk, the UN rights chief, called in a statement for the truce to be honoured by allowing humanitarian and rescue workers immediate and unrestricted access to all those in need. 'I urge a halt to all military operations, and for the focus to be on assisting those impacted by the quake, as well as ensuring unhindered access to humanitarian organisations that are ready to support,' he said. 'I hope this terrible tragedy can be a turning point for the country towards an inclusive political solution.' Min Aung Hlaing, the country's ostracised junta leader, met the prime ministers of India and Thailand at a regional summit called Bimstec in Bangkok on Friday. Shunned by most world leaders since leading a 2021 coup that overthrew an elected government, Gen Hlaing's rare foreign trip exploits a window opened by the earthquake to ramp up diplomacy. On the sidelines of Bimstec, Gen Hlaing had two-way meetings with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Thai premier, and Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister. An Indian foreign ministry spokesman said Mr Modi had called for the truce to be made permanent. 'Political resolution to the conflict is the only way forward, starting with inclusive and credible elections,' Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesman, said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
King and Queen give ‘generous' donation to UK's Myanmar earthquake appeal
The King and Queen are among those who have donated to the UK's Disaster Emergency Committee's (DEC) appeal to help people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. The appeal raised £7.5 million on the first day and donations from the public are still being matched pound for pound by the UK government up to £5 million, as part of its UK Aid Match scheme. Made up of 15 UK aid agencies – including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children – the DEC issued an urgent appeal for funds to help the thousands injured and displaced. The DEC said the total includes a 'generous' donation from the King and Queen, who are regular supporters. More than 3,100 people have died so far in Myanmar and more than 4,500 have been injured, according to the leaders of Myanmar's military government. The DEC's latest fundraising announcement comes after television and radio appeals aired on Thursday calling for support. Saleh Saeed, the chief executive of the DEC, said: 'We are extremely grateful to all the people who have already donated to the DEC Myanmar Earthquake Appeal. 'Once again, the UK public have shown their immense generosity and desire to help those impacted by disasters. 'The stories we are now hearing from the survivors who have managed to escape the ruins of flattened buildings are harrowing. 'Children have lost their families. Thousands have suffered life-changing injuries. Countless more have had their homes and possessions destroyed. 'Life-saving aid is already being delivered by member charities using funds donated to the DEC. But we can reach more people, families and children with your donations. If you are able – please help.' The earthquake that hit last Friday has exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis caused by the country's civil war. The UN said on Friday that the military had launched dozens of strikes over the past week, even after the junta joined its opponents on Wednesday in calling a temporary halt to hostilities for relief to be delivered. 'There have been 16 reports, credible reports, of airstrikes ongoing in different parts of the country, including areas impacted by the earthquakes, since the ceasefire went into effect on April 2,' James Rodehaver, the head of the UN rights office's Myanmar team, said. It said it had received reports of more than 60 attacks in total carried out by the military since the earthquake. Volker Turk, the UN rights chief, called in a statement for the truce to be honoured by allowing humanitarian and rescue workers immediate and unrestricted access to all those in need. 'I urge a halt to all military operations, and for the focus to be on assisting those impacted by the quake, as well as ensuring unhindered access to humanitarian organisations that are ready to support,' he said. 'I hope this terrible tragedy can be a turning point for the country towards an inclusive political solution.' The country's ostracised junta leader Min Aung Hlaing met the prime ministers of India and Thailand at a regional summit called Bimstec in Bangkok on Friday. Shunned by most world leaders since leading a 2021 coup that overthrew an elected government, Gen Hlaing's rare foreign trip exploits a window opened by the earthquake to ramp up diplomacy. On the sidelines of Bimstec, Gen Hlaing had two-way meetings with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Thai premier, and Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister. An Indian foreign ministry spokesman said Mr Modi had called for the truce to be made permanent. 'Political resolution to the conflict is the only way forward, starting with inclusive and credible elections,' Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesman, said.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Myanmar appeal raises £7.5 million on day one with donations from King and Queen
The King and Queen are among those who have donated to the UK's Disaster Emergency Committee's (DEC) appeal to help people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. The appeal raised £7.5 million on the first day and donations from the public are still being matched pound for pound by the UK government up to £5 million, as part of its UK Aid Match scheme. Made up of 15 UK aid agencies – including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children – the DEC issued an urgent appeal for funds to help the thousands injured and displaced. The DEC said the current appeal total includes a 'generous' donation from Charles and Camilla, who are regular supporters of DEC appeals. More than 3,100 people have died so far in Myanmar and more than 4,500 have been injured, according to the leaders of Myanmar's military government. The DEC's latest fundraising announcement comes after television and radio appeals aired on Thursday calling for support. The DEC has launched the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal to help those affected by the powerful earthquakes that have caused devastation in Myanmar. Survivors urgently need critical support. Please donate now. — DEC (@decappeal) April 3, 2025 Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said: 'We are extremely grateful to all the people who have already donated to the DEC Myanmar Earthquake Appeal. 'Once again, the UK public have shown their immense generosity and desire to help those impacted by disasters. 'The stories we are now hearing from the survivors who have managed to escape the ruins of flattened buildings are harrowing. 'Children have lost their families. Thousands have suffered life-changing injuries. Countless more have had their homes and possessions destroyed. 'Life-saving aid is already being delivered by member charities using funds donated to the DEC. But we can reach more people, families and children with your donations. If you are able – please help.'
