U.K. medical charity Doctors of the World has created a set of hard-hitting Christmas cards that juxtapose traditional biblical scenes of the nativity with images from the modern day war-torn Middle East.

The cards, with titles including "Not So Silent Night" and "The Star of Bedlam," were designed by McCann London and feature photojournalism from Press Association taken over the last year. A pack of four limited edition cards, each of a different design, can be purchased at the charity's website for 10 pounds ($12.65).

Leigh Daynes, the charity's executive director, said in a statement: "Every Christmas a romanticised picture is presented of the holy land of the past, featuring peaceful pastoral images that are shared in homes, churches and high streets across the country. This is completely at odds with the humanitarian crisis that the region faces today. This Christmas we're asking people to see the realities that we see of the war-torn Middle East, and share some goodwill with a donation to help us give medical aid to people in desperate need."

Mike Oughton, creative director at McCann London, added: "We saw a huge irony in the war-torn imagery of the Middle East today, when compared to the imagery of the nativity, and its message of 'peace on earth' and 'goodwill to all men'. By creating a set of Christmas cards that seamlessly merge the past with the stark realities of the present, we hope to prick people's consciences."