A humanitarian appeal for people affected by the conflict in the Middle East has received an extra £200,000 in funding from the Scottish Government.
The Disasters Emergency Committee this week launched an appeal for people in Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and Lebanon amid the escalating situation.
The fundraising effort has been backed by all five of Scotland's major parties, and has now received a further £200,000 from Holyrood.
Amid the ongoing wars, 14 DEC member charities are responding in Gaza and Lebanon and eight in the West Bank, including six members fundraising in Scotland, British Red Cross, Oxfam, Islamic Relief, Save the Children, Tearfund and Christian Aid.
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More than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military offensive in the wake of the October 7 attacks, with disease and hunger rife in the occupied enclave.
The number of people facing ‘catastrophic’ levels of hunger is expected to triple in the next six months.
The DEC is also supporting families in Israel who had relatives taken hostage on October 7, as well as those displaced from the north of the country.
In Lebanon, more than a million people have had to leave their homes in recent weeks. Shelters are overwhelmed, and hospitals are struggling to treat the thousands of people injured.
In the West Bank, which is under Israeli military occupation, vital water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure has been damaged.
The UK Government is supporting the DEC appeal by matching the first £10 million of donations from the British public.
In addition to the funding for the DEC, the Scottish Government is also supporting two other Scottish charities, SCIAF and Mercy Corps.
Announcing the new funding the First Minister John Swinney said: “Urgent humanitarian aid must be provided to all those who need it, and this contribution from the Scottish Government will assist the Disasters Emergency Committee, SCIAF and Mercy Corps in ensuring it reaches as many people as possible.
"Members of the public can also pledge support and make donations to the DEC Appeal in a variety of ways and I would urge everyone to consider donating if they are in a position to do so.”
Nibal Farsakh, spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society said: “For the past year, our teams and volunteers have been working tirelessly and selflessly to save people's lives. They are the first to arrive on scene to rescue the wounded and retrieve the bodies.
They have endured very difficult scenes every single day, at the same time they are worried about their families.
"Despite all of these hard circumstances, our teams still have the determination and dedication to go out every single day to save other people's lives.
"Your donation can save lives - we need medications, painkillers antibiotics, medical equipment as well as fuel. Any donation can make a difference.”
The Scotland director of the British Red Cross, Rob Murray said: "It’s great that we’ve had this early support for the appeal from the Scottish Government and we hope that will be followed by the public across the country.
"Aid alone will not solve this crisis, but it will save lives. DEC member charities are responding right now in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank, providing lifesaving food, water, shelter, medicine and so much more.
"Funds raised by the DEC will support this ongoing lifesaving work. If you can, please donate to the appeal now.”
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