A few weeks ago we launched our appeal in aid of victims of war and conflict in a mood of both gloom and optimism: despair at the terrible scale of human suffering in the world this year, but hope generated by the inspiring work of our partner charities.
As we enter the last weekend of the appeal, it is clear that while there is little relief from the violence and misery, whether in Gaza, Ukraine or Sudan or beyond, the appeal has offered extremely positive glimmers of hope. We have raised the enormous sum of £1.5m.
Our three 2024 appeal partner charities will share in the money raised. They are Médecins Sans Frontières UK (MSF), War Child and Parallel Histories.
This is the 10th year in a row that the appeal has taken more than £1m, and more than 13,000 readers have so far donated. These are tough times for many, but our readers’ response – as our journalists who took your calls at the appeal telethon in December will testify – has, as always, been one of incredible generosity. Thank you.
MSF and War Child provide frontline medical and psychosocial care, working in stressful conditions and often risking their lives to offer a lifeline to thousands caught in conflicts across the globe. Your donations will fund operations and therapeutic interventions, as well as provide supplies of surgical equipment, food and shelter.
Parallel Histories has a longer-term aim: to help young people better understand the causes of conflict by giving schools the confidence and materials to teach contested histories, from Northern Ireland to Israel/Palestine. Its goal is to bridge community divides and provide an antidote to populism and extremism.
Hundreds of you have written to us via our online donation page to tell us why you gave money. There was anger, and a dispiriting feeling of powerlessness, over the terrible events taking place in Gaza and elsewhere. Supporting our three charities was often a way to reaffirm your commitment to peace and a better world, and show solidarity with those whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed.
This year’s appeal is also a personal landmark. A decade ago, in my first year as editor-in-chief, we decided to raise the profile of the Guardian and Observer charity appeal, seeing it as a way not only to raise money for good causes, but to share a seasonal message of solidarity and hope with our audience, and raise a flag for social justice and progressive values.
I’m delighted to report that over the 10 annual appeals since 2015, you, our readers, have raised nearly £15m for scores of charities doing vital work in areas as varied as refugee support, the climate crisis, child poverty, homelessness and victims of war.
There is still time to give to this year’s appeal, which closes at midnight on Sunday. I’d like to thank everyone who has so generously donated so far, and in advance to those whom we hope we can still persuade to contribute.