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Help for people of Gaza
15/02/2009
The Scottish Government will provide emergency funding for humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
Minister for External Affairs Michael Russell has today approved the allocation of £427,996 from the International Development Fund in support of Scottish charities operating in the area.
Mr Russell said:
"The scale of the devastation in Gaza as a result of the recent conflict is staggering with over 1,400 Palestinians killed in the recent conflict. A further 5,380 are seriously injured and 21,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged. As a responsible nation, we must take whatever action we can to help innocent civilians enduring extreme suffering as a result of such conflict.
"Scottish charities have a long history of responding quickly and effectively in emergency situations. Today I am making funding available to eight organisations with track records of working with local partners to deliver targeted humanitarian aid to the people needing it most.
"The Disasters Emergency Committee campaign for Gaza is still open, and I would encourage Scots to dig deep and contribute what they can to help alleviate the awful suffering of these innocent civilians in Gaza."
With this funding, Christian Aid, Save the Children and Medical Aid for Palestine will focus on food aid and hygiene requirements of malnourished children and families. Following damage to infrastructure, Oxfam Scotland will help provide safe drinking water and removal of sewage, and Islamic Relief will work to make neighbourhoods safer by removing rubble and dangerous debris. CBM (formerly Christian Blind Mission) will evacuate seriously injured children to the West Bank for specialist treatment. Glasgow The Caring City will provide equipment for frontline medical workers and Edinburgh Direct Aid will provide essential medical aid to the Jabliyeh area.
Samina Haq of Islamic Relief said:
"Islamic Relief is pleased to be implementing this critical environmental clean-up project with the support of the Scottish Government. It will also help create jobs for unemployed labourers in and around Gaza City, and in the northern Gaza Strip, by supporting the removal of rubble caused by the weeks of conflict. We value our partnership with the Scottish Government and look forward to working with them in future endeavours."
Steven James, Chief Executive of Medical Aid for Palestinians, said:
"It is only as the dust clears over Gaza that we are truly able to assess the full extent of the damage and the work to be done. In the aftermath of the bombardment, whole families have been left without homes or shelter. A huge number of casualties continue to require intensive medical care, whilst chronic disease and infection rates are likely to soar due to water and food shortages across the Gaza Strip.
"To support the large number of displaced people, we are deploying 12,000 hygiene and nutrition kits to those most vulnerable, the under-fives and people with disability, and their families. These kits will boost nutrition and hygiene whilst maintaining the dignity of families trying to care for themselves in appalling conditions. The generous support of this programme by the Scottish Government International Development Fund will offer immediate and long-lasting support as they attempt to rebuild their shattered lives."