Liz Lynne calls for increased exposure of DEC Gaza appeal

11.47.55pm GMT Wed 4th Feb 2009

West Midlands LibDem Euro MEP Liz Lynne has called for a wider range of media including local newspapers to carry the appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee for aid to the suffering civilians in Gaza.

The appeal by the DEC, which represents 13 major charities, has now collected over £3 million in donations from the British public, despite the unprecedented decision by the BBC and Sky News not to broadcast it.

The appeal for aid to the one million people of the Gaza strip follows the invasion by Israeli forces in response to Hamas rocket attacks. The conflict claimed the lives of 11 Israelis and 1300 Gaza citizens, mostly civilians and at least 300 of them children, and left many thousands homeless and the infrastructure in ruins. An uneasy truce has held since a ceasefire was unilaterally announced by both sides.

Liz Lynne, a member of the European Parliament's Human Rights Subcommittee, has consistently criticised Israel for its grossly disproportionate response to the rocket attacks by Hamas and appealed for an end to 'collective punishment' of the civilian population. Speaking in Strasbourg today, Liz Lynne said:

"It is good news that the DEC has raised over £3 million but given the mistaken decision by the BBC and Sky, I believe much more could be raised if a wider range of media continued to carry the appeal. The scale of destruction is immense but now the fighting has stopped the crisis has slipped off the TV news agenda.

"The need to buy more emergency aid remains acute - just to provide decent medical facilities to treat the thousands who are gravely wounded. Last Friday, the WHO reported that one million people still lack access to clean water."

"It was a brave but correct decision by ITN and Channel 4 to broadcast the appeal. I hope other media organizations and cinema groups will do so, the appeal is still as relevant now as it was a week ago. I know that advertising revenues in the regional press are under great pressure, but I hope local newspapers give the DEC coalition free or heavily discounted space to run adverts promoting the appeal.

"Just like the war on Lebanon, the Israeli assault in Gaza was grossly disproportionate to the terrorist attacks it has suffered. Israel must recognise that the international community, even it's closest allies, will not tolerate a military assault with such enormous civilian casualties and apparent disregard for international law. The European Parliament passed it's resolution calling for a ceasefire almost unanimously."