Disasters Emergency Committee COVID-19 Appeal

That the Parliament notes the launch on 14 July 2020 of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal in response to the COVID-19 crisis; understands that the fundraising appeal will focus on the needs of the millions living in refugee camps worldwide, where people have little access to medical care, clean water or enough food, making them extremely vulnerable to infection; recognises that charities, such as British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, Save The Children and Tearfund, will benefit from the funds raised by the DEC appeal to support their work in refugee camps in places such as Yemen, Somalia and Syria; acknowledges that the Scottish Government has released funding to support the appeal, and that the UK Government’s Department for International Development will match public donations up to the value of £5 million in order to ensure that DEC member charities working on the ground can reach even more people in need; notes that the campaign is being supported by the Aberdeen-born singer, Annie Lennox, who has recorded an advert for the DEC appeal, which is being played on radio stations across the UK, and understands that the funds raised by the appeal will provide families with clean water, soap and information on keeping themselves safe, as well as ensuring that frontline medical and aid workers have the equipment and supplies that they need to care for the vulnerable and sick in refugee camps.