DEC call for Scots to donate despite disappointment over lack of BBC support

Judith Robertson, Chair of the Disasters Emergency Committee Scotland, has called for Scots to donate to the Gaza Appeal, and make it one of the best supported DEC appeals ever, whether or not the BBC change their view on broadcasting the appeal film.

The Scots public can donate by calling 0370 60 60 900, online at www.dec.org.uk or at any Oxfam, Red Cross, Save the Children or Islamic Relief shop, high street bank or Post Office.

Scots have donated very generously to previous DEC appeals, including for the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the Kashmir earthquake, the crisis in Darfur and the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Donations can make a huge difference. For example £25 can buy warm blankets for 8 children, £50 can buy a food parcel for a family for one week.

There is a major humanitarian crisis on every level in Gaza. Gaza's population of 1.5 million people are in urgent need of food, water, medicines and shelter.

Half of Gazas population is under the age of 16 and as always it's the most vulnerable, women and children who are suffering the most.

Commenting Ms Robertson said: "Clearly the DEC is disappointed that the BBC has decided not to broadcast the appeal film. However what matters most is that the public make a donation. The humanitarian need in Gaza is acute and funds are urgently needed.

"Aid agencies are already in Gaza and working hard to respond, by providing food, clean water and other essentials, however to do this vital work we need public support in the form of money donations.

"Scots have been very generous in the past in responding to those in need of assistance when humanitarian disasters strike - whether they are natural disasters or man-made. The profile of this appeal has been raised, now its time for us all to respond."

Scots aid worker, John Kerr, who working as part of Oxfam's team in Israel and Gaza, said: "It is clear that people in Gaza are suffering terribly from the lack of the basic things in life: food, cooking gas, healthcare and water. It is clear that hundreds of thousands of people need emergency aid now."

Aid agencies are on the ground providing food, water and medicines but aid workers are overwhelmed with the humanitarian crisis. More money is needed to buy aid to alleviate the suffering in Gaza. International aid workers need urgent and unrestricted access to Gaza to step up the relief work on the ground.