Saturday, January 24, 2009

Gaza Crisis Appeal

The Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella organisation for 13 UK humanitarian aid agencies including the British Red Cross, Christian Aid and Oxfam, has launched a charity appeal to help ease the plight of people affected by the conflict in Gaza. Over 1,300 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, and many thousands have been injured, overwhelming local hospitals. The destruction has left people without homes and many children without schooling; power, food and water supplies are insufficient to cover the population’s needs.

Normally, the DEC is supported by a network of television and radio broadcasters, the banks, the Post Office, BT, regional and national press and a range of organisations in the corporate sector. This time, the BBC have decided not to broadcast the appeal for Gaza on the grounds that it would compromise its commitment to impartiality. ITV and Channel 4 have no such concerns and will air the film.

If you'd like to help, this page will tell you how.

9 comments:

Karen said...

I am saddened for the state of affairs in Gaza, but let's keep in mind that in the days immediately following the Israeli ceasefire, Hamas fired 6 Qassam rockets into civilian neighborhoods in Sderot. The Israelis are acting in self-defense and are not the instigators of this war.

Tinsie said...

I don't see how offering humanitarian help to the people who are suffering as a result of this conflict is in any way supporting Hamas. Personally I think the BBC is out of order BIG time and I hope they see sense soon.

Maria Verivaki said...

the bbc's actions were also discussed on greek tv.

certainly the bbc would not be showing impartiality if it broadcast the appeal for gaza - it would look as though they are supporting the palestinians.

but by not broadcasting it, they are simply showing their support for the israelis.

either way, they have lost their impartiality stance

GMG said...

It's always hard to keep impartiality in the middle of disaster...

Well, Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財

Missed you at Blogtrotter... ;)

Anonymous said...

Find out more about British Red Cross work in Gaza at
http://www.redcross.org.uk/TLC.asp?id=90152
or to donate to our appeal go to www.redcross.org.uk/gazacrisis

Karen said...

You're right, of course. I think I'm sensitive b/c the American media seem to all be anti-Israel...

Tinsie said...

@ Mediterranean Kiwi: In which case, it's pointless claiming loss of impartiality on the basis of broadcasting the appeal.

I personally think their stance is a joke - I can't see viewers abandoning the BBC because it broadcast an appeal (any appeal) backed by a number of reputable aid agencies. They have however moved down a few notches in my estimation, as they have proven they are not impartial, whatever they might like to have us think.

@ GMG: Much more difficult when you're in the middle of an actual war.

@ Karen: Are they really? I'm surprised, I thought American media were de facto pro Israel.

Maria Verivaki said...

that's what i thought (about the us media)

Karen said...

I think everything over here is changing...

Hamas was sending rockets into Israel for 6 solid weeks before Israel did a single thing in retaliation. We never heard boo about it over here during all that time. Now all you hear is that Israel is killing Palestinian civilians, and we don't hear a thing about the Hamas strategy of placing themselves right in the midst of civilian neighborhoods. The reporting is very one-sided over here, in my opinion, all of it making Israel out to be the bad guy.