BENEFIT EVENING FOR GAZA - 25.01.09

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) held a hugely successful benefit dinner for Gaza at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 25 January 2009.

Despite the dinner only being arranged only 12 days before, over 450 people turned out to raise money for MAP projects and show solidarity with the people of Gaza.

High profile guests at the event included actresses Juliet Stevenson and Oscar-nominated Samantha Morton, comedians Bill Bailey, Alexei Sayle and Mark Steel, and media figures Rageh Omar and Jeremy Hardy.

Yusuf Islam and John Williams both performed music on the night which launched the MAP campaign to raise £1 million for Emergency Gaza Appeal.

Watch Yusuf Islam's Song for Gaza HERE

MAP, with over 25 years experience helping vulnerable Palestinians, has permanent staff on the ground across the Gaza Strip, Ramallah and Beirut. Our core office in Gaza City continues to work in tandem with our office in Ramallah to coordinate the arrival and effective distribution of thousands of family nutritional and hygiene kits for the displaced people of Gaza.

MAP's emergency aid workers, based in nine of Gaza's main hospitals and clinics, continue to report on medicine and equipment shortages.

Juliet Stevenson speaks to the media

John Williams

Actress Julia Sawalha

MAP's previous president, Helena Kennedy

Comedian Bill Bailey

Alexei Sayle