Mayor raises over £15,000 for UNICEF’s Gaza Appeal for Children in Crisis
23 April 2026
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council is delighted to announce an incredible £15,500.76 was raised from his UNICEF’s Gaza Appeal for Children in Crisis.
The fundraising appeal was launched in November 2025 to mark UNICEF’s World Children’s Day, and called for schools, community groups, voluntary groups and local businesses to organise their own events and be part of a wider initiative.
Mayor of DCSDC, Cllr Ruairí McHugh, was astounded by the amount of support from the city and district and thanked everyone sincerely for their help in raising such an extraordinary amount.
“This remarkable total reflects the compassion and generosity of the people in our Council area. When we issued the call to action, we hoped people would get involved but this response has been truly overwhelming,” he said.
The Mayor offered a huge and heartfelt thank you to all the community groups, schools, organisations, businesses, and individuals who organised events and raised funds.
“I want to sincerely thank every single group and volunteer who stepped forward to organise events and support this initiative. These efforts take time, energy and commitment, and the response we’ve seen has been nothing short of inspiring. You have made a real and meaningful difference to children living in extremely difficult circumstances.
“We continue to support and stand in solidarity with those living in crisis in Gaza and right across the world. I am incredibly proud of everyone who got involved and has made a real difference to those living in unimaginable conditions.”
For more information on UNICEF’s Gaza Appeal and how to continue supporting their work, visit www.unicef.org.