People across Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region require food, shelter and medical following deadly attacks and invasion by Israel
Charities have launched an urgent fundraising appeal to help people “devastated” by escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) - which brings together 15 of the UK’s biggest aid groups including Oxfam, British Red Cross and ActionAid - says the scale of need is "overwhelming".
People across Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region require food, shelter and medical care after fleeing their homes in search of safety following deadly attacks and invasion by Israel.
The Middle East Humanitarian Appeal will feature across the BBC today (17 October), as well as on other broadcasters including Sky, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
Donations will be matched by the UK government up to the first £10 million.
Launching the campaign, the committee said the devastation caused by the conflicts meant thousands of people were dying from hunger and disease.
At a press conference launching the appeal, the DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed said people in Gaza are "dying of hunger and disease" and "UN experts have warned that there is a risk of famine across the Gaza strip, as long as the conflict continues.".
On Lebanon he added: “Years of economic crisis, political turmoil and ongoing conflict in Lebanon have taken a terrible toll and left the country ill equipped to handle a humanitarian crisis at this scale.”
In Lebanon, where its government estimates 1.2 million people have been displaced due to Israeli air strikes and invasion, the DEC said "shelters are overwhelmed and hospitals are struggling to cope".
In the West Bank, it said "water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure" have been damaged by "ongoing violence".
Saeed said member charities are already responding to the situation in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank, but they "urgently need more funds to meet the huge levels of need".
Save the Children is a member of the DEC, and its humanitarian director Rachael Cummings recently returned from Gaza.
She said: "The rate that people’s health is deteriorating is extraordinary. We are seeing increases in children with diarrhoea, jaundice, respiratory conditions.”
You can donate to the DEC Middle East appeal here.
