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Leading UK aid agencies are appealing to the public for urgently needed funds to help ease the desperate plight of people affected by the conflict in Gaza.

Age Concern is not a humanitarian aid agency but we do want to help raise awareness of the work of leading UK aid agencies including the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) at this time.

Older people in Gaza at great risk

There are 60‚000 older people in Gaza - and they face an even greater struggle to survive as the medicine and health services they depend upon fail to get through.

Their lack of mobility means that they can be isolated and unable to migrate to safer areas. As their own children look for ways out or fall victim to the conflict‚ they could also be the sole carers of grandchildren.

Launching the Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza Crisis Appeal‚ chief executive Brendan Gormley said that the devastation wrought in the Gazan territory was so huge that British aid agencies were compelled to act.

Over 1‚300 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict‚ and many thousands have been injured‚ overwhelming local hospitals. The destruction has left people without homes and many children without schooling; power‚ food and water supplies are insufficient to cover the population’s needs.

Urgent humanitarian aid is desperately needed

For Gazans struggling to survive‚ receiving urgent humanitarian aid will help them take the first step to recovery

Mr Gormley said: 'DEC agencies have a humanitarian mandate. We are not proposing to attempt to rebuild Gaza – that is not our role. But with the public’s support we can help relieve short-term needs. Agencies are already providing food‚ drugs and blankets as well as delivering clean water.

'But we will soon reach the limit of what we can do‚ without more money.  For Gazans struggling to survive‚ receiving urgent humanitarian aid will help them take the first step to recovery.'

Age Concern England and Help the Aged are joining together to form a single new charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people on 1 April 2009. Working in partnership with HelpAge International and Merlin‚ Help the Aged are carrying out a technical assessment so that they can meet the health needs of older people.

Donate now to the DEC Gaza Crisis Appeal.