His Majesty The King thanks aid workers and volunteers as Middle East Humanitarian Appeal raises £35 million

His Majesty The King visited St Peter’s Church in Notting Hill to meet and thank DEC staff, volunteers, aid workers and humanitarian experts, fundraisers and those who have worked on the DEC’s Middle East and Ukraine Humanitarian Appeals. 

During the visit, The King was greeted by DEC CEO Saleh Saeed, CEO and Pat Allerton, vicar of St Peter’s Church, a Notting Hill based church that has supported the Middle East humanitarian cause through Tearfund, one of the DEC member charities.

The event celebrated individual and community volunteers who have supported the DEC appeal. His Majesty met 14-year-old Amelia Nichols who organised a cake sale and raffle, Dominic Vickers who did an ultra 10k challenge and 3 medical students from University College London who did a London to Brighton sponsored walk. 

Sharron Callaghan and Emma Phillips, supermarket workers from Morrisons in Leeds and Leicester who have been doing bucket collections were in also attendance, as well as Reverend Chris Fox Vicar and Lead Pastor of St Paul’s Church in Ealing which raised £6,000 in the first week of the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal launched in October 2024.

When I watched the DEC’s appeal for the Middle East crisis on television I was so moved, particularly seeing babies and young children suffering and felt I must do something to help. Together with my sister and some of my friends we organised a cake sale and raffle and raised an amazing £600!

 - Amelia Nichols, aged 14 

His Majesty also met with humanitarian workers and experts from DEC member charities, including aid workers who have recently returned from Gaza. These included Becky Platt, a paediatric nurse working with Save the Children, Michelle Farrington, a specialist in public health working for Oxfam, Katie Roxburgh Christian Aid’s IoPt Programme Manager, and Sayeeda Salam Executive Director of Concern Worldwide (UK).

Becky Platt, a paediatric nurse who was working in Gaza with Save the Children earlier this year said:

"I’ve seen the horrific physical injuries from blasts, but their unimaginable suffering in this conflict run even deeper.  The psychological trauma I observed in children and young people was unlike anything I have ever encountered. Thousands are left in appalling conditions, many completely alone.

As a nurse, I’ve witnessed pain and suffering, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw in Gaza. So many children are in desperate need. 
 

Becky Platt, paediatric nurse

Since the launch in October, the Appeal has raised more than £35 million in aid of people across the Middle East whose lives have been devastated by conflict. Their Majesties The King and Queen were among the first to donate to the appeal.

Over the past year, millions of people across the Middle East have fled their homes in search of safety. The appeal is already providing support enabling DEC charities and their local partners to reach some of the most vulnerable with lifesaving aid.

In the coming weeks and months, DEC charities and their local partners are preparing for this winter in Gaza. Alongside local partners they are distributing shelter kits, distributing hot food and providing cash assistance, allowing people to access essential supplies from local markets, which have skyrocketed in price.

In Lebanon, DEC charities and their local partners continue to support displaced people who have lost so much. After months of living in crowded shelters, and with many homes and essential facilities destroyed, humanitarian aid remains critical to meet people's most urgent needs.

His Majesty The King is a longstanding supporter of the DEC. He has previously met with CEOs and experts from the DEC’s 15 charities to discuss the Pakistan floods response in 2022 and in 2023 hosted a special event at Buckingham palace to mark the DEC’s 60th anniversary and celebrate humanitarian workers across the world.

Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said: 

“It has been wonderful to see the Royal Family support the DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal. This morning, we welcomed His Majesty The King to St Peter’s Church, to hear first-hand from aid workers who have recently returned from Gaza, as well as some volunteers. 

With winter now worsening the already dire humanitarian conditions across the region, the needs are vast and urgent. We are so grateful to the UK public for their support to this appeal, and to all of our amazing volunteers who are continuing to raise money to support the most vulnerable.”