Dear Friends,
I’m getting in touch to alert you to the launch of The Middle East Humanitarian Appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) today.
The DEC combines the efforts of its 15 members – all leading UK charities, including Christian Aid – to raise funds quickly and efficiently at times of humanitarian crisis overseas. Right now, millions of people across Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region are in urgent need of food, shelter and medical care.
Today marks the start a two-week Period of Joint Action with our fellow DEC members. This means that over the next two weeks we come together with 14 other INGOs, DEC partners, broadcasters and supporters to raise vital funds for the escalating humanitarian crisis across the Middle East. Already today the appeal has been shared on BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales, and others including ITV and S4C will be share more later today and over the coming days. The Welsh Government will be donating £100,000 to the appeal and Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, was with us at the launch in Cardiff Bay this morning.
We are incredibly thankful to the many individuals and churches that have already donated to the crisis in Gaza. Just five weeks ago, we relaunched our own Christian Aid Gaza Appeal and the response to that has far exceeded our expectations, and this on top of the response last year for our Middle East Appeal. This DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal is now an opportunity to thank people for their incredible response so far, to invite them once again to support if they can, and to raise as much public awareness as we can.
Very immediately, please can I ask for your support by:
- Sharing about the appeal: reshare our posts on X DEC X English and DEC X Cymraeg and CA Wales Facebook
- Please use the attached social media assets/banners on your pages and newsletters
- Share this link where people can donate to the DEC appeal: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/dec-middle-east-humanitarian-appeal
What can churches do?
- Share about the appeal: reshare our posts on X DEC X English and DEC X Cymraeg and CA Wales Facebook
- Help raise awareness: by printing out and displaying this simple black and white poster outside your church and in the community: caid.org.uk/DECMiddleEastResources
- Hold a collection: Welsh and English emergency appeal envelopes are available to order here: caid.org.uk/DECMiddleEastResources or call 08080 005 005
- Pray: If have an opportunity to hold a moment of reflection for the crisis, you might find the below prayer points useful:
Pray for:
- Those displaced by the conflict, remembering that women travelling with children are among the most vulnerable in the world
- Those who have lost loved ones to the violence, and for all who have been injured and those who have suffered trauma
- Medical staff and volunteers, those who are trained professionals and those who have stepped in to help, often with limited resources. May there be places of safety where people can heal
- Humanitarian aid workers as they seek to provide lifesaving resources to communities in crisis
- Those who have lost livelihoods due to the instability, knowing that it may be years before they can rebuild
- Faith leaders and communities across the Middle East who are working to serve their neighbours and bring comfort to those who suffer
- All who have the power to bring an end to violence that they may pursue the ways of peace
- Children being born into conflict that through the forging of peace and the transformational power of love, they may be able to grow up safe from harm
To find out more about how Christian Aid and our partners are responding and to give please visit: