THE tragic scenes from the Philippines in the wake of the devastation wrought by typhoon Haiyo have touched the hearts of many.
Television reports - and, indeed, the pages of this newspaper - have brought the scale of the misery into our homes. And already there are signs that Scots will extend their customary helping hand across the globe.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), made up of 14 leading UK aid charities, has launched an appeal, as has the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (Sciaf).
Commendably, and even in a time of austerity and financial stricture, the Scottish Government has stepped forward and pledged £600,000 to the DEC. And there can be little doubt that Scots will be quick to play their part. Despite cheap stereotypical jibes to the contrary, we have a track record for generosity. An Ipsos Mori poll earlier this year showed that Scotland is the most generous nation in the UK. And a survey conducted on behalf of online retailers found that 40% of us donate after seeing a charity advertisement, much higher than the UK average of 25%.
The need of the Filipino people is great. The Scottish people will respond.
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