Milton Keynes MP welcomes aid match for Middle East as Gaza faces winter misery
As winter weather adds to misery in Gaza, a Milton Keynes MP welcomes further aid match to a Middle East Humanitarian Appeal.
The UK Government has announced it is matching donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC’s) Middle East Humanitarian Appeal up to a further £3 million, to help support vulnerable families this winter.
Emily Darlington, MP for Milton Keynes Central and Chair of the Aid Match APPG, called for aid match to be used to raise funds for the rebuilding of Gaza in the House of Commons and in The Independent last month. In the online newspaper, she claimed that it was important for the government to invest in defence, but not at the expense of our soft power. Emily’s argument was also backed up by Harrow West MP, Gareth Thomas.
Responding to the announcement, Emily Darlington MP said: “The devastation in Gaza is a humanitarian disaster. Now that aid is entering, it is time for the UK public and UK government to work together to bring medical services, food and shelter to the families in Gaza.”
“Many people in the UK care about the people in Gaza, and by matching £ for £, we can help more people more quickly, despite the cuts to development aid. This is why I have been calling for this publicly and working with government Ministers privately to have Aid Match DEC appeal.”
In Gaza, where the majority of funds from the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal are being spent, recent heavy rain has caused flooding that has inundated tents and destroyed people’s belongings. A dire shortage of shelter and essential items means children are facing cold nighttime temperatures without warm clothes or blankets.
The DEC’s Middle East Humanitarian Appeal has raised more than £55 million since its launch in October 2024 - bringing lifesaving aid to people impacted by conflict in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria. The UK Government previously matched £10 million of donations when the appeal launched, as part of its UK Aid Match scheme.
Since October’s ceasefire agreement in Gaza, DEC charities and their local partners have been able to scale up their work thanks to generous UK donations to the appeal. Although goods are available again in local markets and malnutrition rates are finally decreasing, the needs in Gaza remain huge.
Over 80% of homes have been damaged or destroyed, and families are spending their third winter in makeshift shelters having been displaced multiple times. The harsh weather means living conditions are deteriorating rapidly and there is a growing risk of diseases spreading.
According to the British Red Cross, 1.5 million people are in urgent need of emergency shelter and 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced. More than 69,000 people have died and at least 170,000 have been injured in Gaza since October 2023. The IPC declared a famine in the region as of August 22.
DEC charities are working around the clock to deliver cash, medical care, food, clean water, essential supplies and so much more. But increased access for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza at scale is still desperately needed.
Donations can be made at the Disasters Emergency Committee’s website or by calling 0370 60 60 610.