Fifteen UK aid charities are launching a humanitarian appeal to address the “overwhelming” need in Gaza, Lebanon and the wider Middle East.

The charities make up the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which is raising urgent funds for the millions in the region requiring food, water, shelter and medical care after fleeing their homes in search of safety.

The government has said it will match the first £10m of donations from the public.

Appeals to support the DEC’s work will be broadcast on Sky, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 on Thursday evening, while BBC radio appeals will be broadcast throughout the day.

The DEC is “monitoring the evolving situation” in Israel and several charities in the organisation are “ready to expand their response to include Israel if significant unmet humanitarian needs are identified”.

Middle East latest updates

DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed said: “Millions of people, including many thousands of children, are dealing with almost unimaginable trauma.

“Many have been displaced multiple times and have no homes to return to. Now food and medical care is scarce and families face devastating choices to survive.

“DEC member charities are responding right now in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank, providing lifesaving food, water, shelter and medicine – this humanitarian support is a vital lifeline for millions of people in overwhelming need of assistance.

“But our member charities urgently need more funds to meet the huge levels of need. We are asking people to please donate now to save lives.”

Read more:
‘Life was beautiful’: How Gaza has changed in last year
Timeline of events in year of war in Middle East

Meanwhile, development minister Anneliese Dodds said the suffering of civilians affected by the conflict is “intolerable”.

She said: “Humanitarian support is urgently needed for the most vulnerable people. Charities play a crucial role in providing help to those most affected, and need your support.

“That is why we are matching public donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Middle East Humanitarian Appeal to provide urgent humanitarian assistance up to £10m.

“This will be used to provide life-saving aid including medical supplies, shelter and clean water to those who need it most.”

If you want to support people in the region, there are further details of how you can do so at dec.org.uk

Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died at the age of 31.

The singer was in Argentina when he was found dead by police.

How did Payne die?

Local police said Payne had fallen from the third floor of a hotel in the capital Buenos Aires on Wednesday evening.

He is said to have suffered “extremely serious injuries”.

Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, said on Argentinian television that Payne fell into a courtyard of the CasaSur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighbourhood.

He declined to answer further questions about the incident, including whether Payne jumped from the balcony or fell by accident.

Pablo Policicchio, a spokesperson for the security ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, said police were called to the hotel in response to an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.

Tributes as Payne found dead at hotel – follow latest

Payne’s social media post hours before death

Payne had posted on Snapchat in the last few hours, and in one video he said it was a “lovely day here in Argentina”.

“Just enjoying coffee and breakfast, even though it’s like 1pm,” he said. “Literally sleep in every day until like 12. We’re such losers.”

The star spoke about “going to ride some horses” and said: “Think I’m going to play polo again which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks.”

“It’s going to be a nice day,” he added.

It was not clear when the videos were filmed, but were posted hours before his death.

Why was Payne in Argentina?

Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.

He was seen dancing at his show two weeks ago at the Movistar Arena alongside his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

Former One Direction star Liam Payne was posting on Snapchat just hours before his death in Buenos Aires.

The 31-year-old singer died outside a hotel in Argentina’s capital, after falling from the third floor of a hotel, police said.

On Snapchat, he spoke to his followers about his plans for one of his days on holiday, saying it was a “lovely day in Argentina” and he planned to play polo.

The videos appear to be posted days after they were filmed, as they feature Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, who uploaded videos of her return to Florida on social media earlier in the week.

“Today, we ride. We’re going to ride some horses,” he said, in one of the videos.

“Think I’m going to play polo again, which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks.

“It’s so hard to do, number one, my back and my neck from swinging that hammer around… or mallet, I think it’s called if you’re in the know.

“It hurts a lot, it’s very tough to do.”

Read more:
What we know so far

He also gave his followers a tour of the room he was staying in with Cassidy, who he has been dating since October 2022.

Latest updates: Former One Direction star found dead at hotel

“Haha, loser, weirdo,” he joked with her about the fact she was leaving Argentina.

“Obviously, we’re going to go home and see our dog,” he said.

The pair recently fostered a dog called Nala who they’ve nicknamed Noonie, Chooch, Narls and Choochie, according to the videos.

Payne and Cassidy said they’d been having lie-ins every morning, and the singer told his followers they were enjoying coffee and breakfast, “even though it’s like 1pm”.

“We literally sleep in every day until like 12,” Cassidy said in the background.

“We’re such losers,” she said.

The singer finished his update on Snapchat by sharing some of the “amazing” art in their room.

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“On occasion I do paint and I like doing art,” he said, but admitted he’d not found more art he was “in love with” except for a picture hanging on the wall.

“They’ve got the most amazing art in this house,” he said.