Gaza emergency fundraising appeal broadcasted on UK channels

A Gaza emergency fundraising appeal by the British Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella organization of 13 British charities, has been broadcasted by UK public service broadcasters in Britain, including the BBC.

The appeal was broadcasted on BBC Radio Four's Today program, BBC One TV Channel, as well as TV Channels ITV, Channel 4, Channel Five and Sky.

However, BBC News reported that it is thought the BBC will shoot its own version of the emergency appeal, rather than take the version offered by the DEC.

The BBC and Sky chose not to broadcast a previous DEC Gaza appeal in 2009 and that decision stirred a storm of angry protests. As a result, the BBC received 40,000 complaints from the British public and that may have contributed to its change of stance on airing the current appeal.

The DEC website says that the umbrella charity brings together 13 leading UK aid charities in times of crisis. These include, Action Aid, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, Plan UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision. They all collectively raise money to reach those in need quickly and the DEC hasrun 64 appeals and raised more than $1.8 billion since it launch in 1963.

In a related development, the British government said it will match the first £2m of public donations to the DEC emergency appeal for people affected by the conflict in Gaza.