Cash raised from Unicef's Ebola appeal to be matched up to £5m by UK Government
Up to £5 million of government cash will match donations from Unicef’s Ebola appeal, due to be broadcast during the Scotland v England game on Tuesday.
The appeal, which features Scotland star Darren Fletcher, will be shown during the match at Glasgow's Celtic Park.
It is in the same stadium Unicef mounted a call for donations at the launch of the Commonwealth Games – raising an estimated £5m.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced the new funds after securing a commitment from leading world powers at the G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, to "do what is necessary to ensure the international effort can extinguish the outbreak".
The UK has already committed around £230m to the fight against Ebola and is taking a lead in healthcare operations in Sierra Leone, one of the three west African countries worst affected.
We will help Unicef give double the support to children who have been orphaned and had their lives turned upside down - Justine Greening
Cameron said: "The UK has secured real action from G20 leaders here in Brisbane, but the generosity of the British people in helping those caught up in the Ebola crisis in west Africa has been second to none.
"That's why we will match up to £5m of the money raised during Tuesday's match, helping to make a real difference to the families and children living under the threat of the disease."
Football matches have been cancelled in Sierra Leone since August in a bid to prevent the spread of the Ebola infection among crowds.
International development secretary Justine Greening said: "This week's Scotland v England match will give the British public the chance to show their support for Unicef's Ebola appeal in Sierra Leone.
"By matching pound for pound all public donations to the appeal, we will help Unicef give double the support to children who have been orphaned and had their lives turned upside down by this dreadful disease."
Viewers of the match on both ITV and Sky Sports will be able to see the appeal just before kick-off at 8pm and then again during half-time.
They will be asked to help by texting the word KIT to 70333 to donate £5.
