Palestine aid worker details impact of Scots donations

The Herald Scotland

11-07-2025

Christian Aid is one of those charities and their Glasgow-based programme manager Katie Roxburgh insists it is vital for those working in the region.
Christian Aid works with a host of local partners to provide aid and support to those suffering in Palestine.
As well as the bombardment of attacks from Israel, the population is struggling for food and there are regular outbreaks of dangerous diseases among those who still live there.
A recent polio outbreak was halted in its tracks by a new vaccination programme but there are fears over measles currently.
Ms Roxburgh says the situation remains at breaking point as she revealed life is 'unbearable' for many people who are struggling.
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She said: 'The generosity and the support of the public in Scotland and beyond for our partners and people in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in the Gaza strip, can't be understated.
'I've been told by our partners, that it's keeping them alive and keeping their hope alive. They are really thankful and would encourage you to give more support if you can. With more funds we can do more, that is clear.
'We'll be able to secure more stock, more food, more medical equipment, and we'll be able to reach more people for a longer period. We definitely welcome donations still and would be very grateful for further support.
'The situation is still beyond catastrophic. We're seeing horror after horror and Palestinians are in desperate need of respite. People are living in overcrowded shelters and are regularly forced to move to smaller plots of land.
'Diseases are spreading quickly and meeting basic needs is almost impossible. Palestinians in Gaza are under attack in multiple ways. While there is the threat to life by constant aerial bombardment and sniper, people are also being starved due to the limited aid that is permitted to enter.
'Or they are getting really sick because of diseases and infections with little hope of access to health services. These multiple critical threats make daily life completely unbearable.
'The availability of aid in Gaza isn't ever guaranteed and the situation is changing all the time. Stocks diminish quickly, and the amount of aid that is entering is never enough to sustain people, which is leading to severe hunger.'
The partners on the ground play a big part in helping those who are suffering but they face their own issues too.
Many lose contact with friends and family and Ms Roxburgh insists they are 'heroes' who go above and beyond.
She continued: 'Our medical partner has tripled the number of teams they have in Gaza.
'They run mobile health clinics - medical teams which are made-up of doctors, nurses, counsellors, midwives.
'They're providing primary healthcare services across Gaza, including services like changing wound dressings, sending midwives to displacement camps or makeshift shelters in schools, supporting pregnant women and also giving advice to women who've recently given birth.
'They're a lifeline to thousands of people in Gaza, and they're - remarkably - still able to operate, and in fact have grown the number of teams they have, reaching people by bicycle or by foot, because the roads are destroyed. They're using anything in their means to reach people.
'They are incredible, they are heroes. What they are going through is beyond imaginable, yet they continue to work to try and alleviate the suffering of thousands, while they themselves suffer immensely too.
'A staff member, working for one of our medical partners, recently recounted a story about when he was going back home after work and there was a bombing right next to him and he jumped out of the car and went to help an injured boy on the street and the young boy told him that he'd rather die than live through the agony that is Gaza in the moment.
'It's a completely devastating story that is indicative of how people feel. But the heroism of this partner staff member, who, even outside of his work he's still helping people. Basically trying to support the injured, give hope, give life to people who are so desperately in need.
'We're hearing regularly about partners who are losing contact with staff members for days at a time because of the continuous evacuation orders. Many staff have lost family members. Some partner staff have been killed. It's incredible that they're able to keep going.
'I asked one colleague recently if they could describe what it is that that keeps them going and they said it's steadfastness. They also said the support from the international community is keeping hope alive, it's showing people in Gaza, Palestinians, that the rest of the world cares about them and wants to help and wants to do something to change their situation.'