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Original poster

In what way can appealing for funds to help people in a humanitarian disaster by seen as taking sides?

48 replies

Nantucket · 24/01/2009 16:59

The BBC's stance on this seems very weak to me.

I agree thier impartiality is crucial, but how would an appeal for help for poeple in crisis compromise that?

Which 'side' doesn't want help for people in Gaza that they could be seen to be upsetting?

Surely they have run appeals for support for humanitarian disasters following a war situation before? This is a genuine quesion I can't think of one right now.

How do I complain to the BBC? Anyone want to join me?

OP posts:
stuffitllama · 24/01/2009 17:04

It has probably got more coverage by not being shown.

The BBC sets great store by its impartiality more than any other broadcaster as you know and Middle East news sees them intensely debated every day I am sure.

It's not difficult to complain I don't think. Check the BBC website.

foxinsocks · 24/01/2009 17:06

I don't know. They don't regularly have charity appeals apart from their own ones (like red nose day or whatever) do they? I can't remember whether they did anything for Feed the World etc.

PlainOldPeachy · 24/01/2009 17:08

Well the effect of this s that dh and I managed a small donation today that we might not have otherwise.

Sides be damned, small children need help so they should receive it.

Would sign a petition if one exists but would never eremeber to file a complaint myself.

hannahsaunt · 24/01/2009 17:18

Off the top of my head, it's not a regular thing. I think I do agree with the BBC (despite my own personal views on the rights and wrongs of the whole situation). It's not a natural disaster, there hasn't been a situation like in Sudan with (non combat) people fleeing to refugee camps which then need support, it is different from other situations and as such I can understand the BBC's reluctance to possibly be seen to be compromising their position. Let's face it, if it had been broadcast they probably would have been accused of being partisan - rather a case of damned if they do and damned if they don't ... at least if they don't we all cry shame and give - it could be quite a pertinent strategy move!

wannaBe · 24/01/2009 17:31

I'm inclined to agree with the bbc tbh.

This isn't a disaster in terms of an earthquake or the tsunami where there was no human at fault, this could be perceived as siding with Hamas, after all it is their people that are living in Gaza.. and regardless of the rights or wrongs of what Israel have done, Hamas are not without fault...

Have to say I wonder why the DEC have seen fit to create this appeal, I don't think I've ever seen such appeals foor other wars, Ruanda/DRC etc, and the casualties of those have been much, much worse.

Palistine is next door to some of the richest Arab countries, perhaps one needs to question why none of them have offered any aid..? Essentially to their own..?

PlainOldPeachy · 24/01/2009 17:34

There's a link on the DEC page to their work in the DRC Wannabe
and it was backed with a TV appeal

here

wannaBe · 24/01/2009 17:38

I stand corrected. .

I still think it's different though as DRC is blatant (sp?) genicide and there is only one party at fault. But in Gaza it's not that black and white as there is fault on both sides.

tribpot · 24/01/2009 17:38

Surely not everyone who lives in Gaza is a member of Hamas? It's not like DEC are trying to point-score off Israel, they just want to go in and help people.

I can understand the political sensitivity around it but the Beeb's response surely at the moment suggests it thinks the people of Gaza (Gaza, not Hamas) deserved what they got?

PlainOldPeachy · 24/01/2009 17:46

I just don't think fault matters here; i'd be equally as happy to see a plea on behalf of Israeli children had they been injured in a Hamas bombing attack.

As far as I can see, if there's a large number of people in need (esp. small children!) then the DEC has a duty to get involved- after all theya re simply an emergency umbrella for charities that have long been involved and are now finding thmselves inundated with casualties and need.

I'd be more uncomfortable if the DEC did start considereing blame tbh, its not their mandate: only suffering.

The other key of ocurse is that the DEC gives to recognised cahrities so is a 'safer' way of giiving: better that they appeal and funds go to reciognised organnisations than people give to charities that have no proper infrastructure etc (IMO)

wannaBe · 24/01/2009 17:49

no, running the appeal implies that the people of Gaza who have been the victims of israeli attacks are more deserving of help than the Israeli victims of attacks by Hamas.

yes there have been more deaths in Gaza over the past few weeks, but every death is equally as tragic, no? so what of those who have lost limbs, lost family members, become permanently disabled because of the suicide bombings in Israel over the past years? Are they not worthy of support because they are Israelli?

PlainOldPeachy · 24/01/2009 17:51

But the people in Israel get help as well- the DEC is set up to coordinate large scale requests, and there hasn't been an equivalent loss in Israel right now thank God. The disasters Emergency guys only come into play (IIRC) when there is a significantly sized appeal needed.

If theyr efused to get involved in Israel etc I would be both angry and shocked. But we'd need there to be an equivalent loss there first to see.

PlainOldPeachy · 24/01/2009 17:52

(not posating and running wannabe, chippy run LOL )

mollyroger · 24/01/2009 17:53

oh there were appeals for Rawanda, I remember posters in oxfam.

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 24/01/2009 19:07

I just saw this on the news - bloody outragious!

They could protect their impartiality by having a policy of broadcasting any and every appeal for help for any place where people are, through no fault of their own, suffering, regardless of the reason for this.

Sorted, surely?

Original poster
Nantucket · 24/01/2009 19:09

Should we really be talking about 'fault' when there are tens of thousands of people without water, food and housing?

There isn't an appeal for the civilians kiled by Hamas rockets because there were only three of them. Tragic, but hardly a humanitarian crisis.

If there were hundereds of thousands of Israelis, or anyone, without homes and basic needs and the red cross and NGO's were asking for a disaster fund, and saying three was a humanitarian crisis, I would give.

I think the fact some poele are arguing that the Palsetinain suffering is there 'own fault' and therefore not as worthy of our support speaks volumes.

It seesm somehow thier suffering xan be dismissed.

They are women, children and families suffering. Regardless on where you stand on the wider debate on the conflict.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nantucket · 24/01/2009 19:11

Exactly Hecate. If the appeal is supported by the big NGO's they should broadcast, regardless of who it is. That would be impartial.

OP posts:
policywonk · 24/01/2009 19:17

There was an interesting article in the Guardian a week or so ago about the BBC's coverage of the Gaza situation. here John Kampfner was arguing that the BBC has become very wary of any reporting/comment that could be interpreted as critical of Israel following a 2005 report on its coverage.

Might explain this rather odd decision?

Original poster
Nantucket · 24/01/2009 19:36

Mark Thompson Editor in Chief is saying on the website that they do not always agree to all DEC appeals. I wonder which other appeals they have declined, does anyone know?

I guess if they have a record of refusing all appeals that have an ongoing 'political' debate that may make thire decision more understandable.

I don't know thier past record on this.

Stuffit is right though, this has actually got the appeal more coverage.

OP posts:
Habbibu · 24/01/2009 19:51

They could have got round it by making a statement to the effect that were there to be a similar humanitarian crisis in Israel, then they would also broadcast an equivalent appeal. Fault really isn't the issue here. The infrastructure in Gaza is very badly damaged, and their access to humanitarian relief has been very limited. It's not about whether people have died, it's about whether the state is in a position to manage what's happened to it, and Gaza can't without external aid.

PlainOldPeachy · 24/01/2009 20:03

This is what the DEC are asking for aid for:

'immediate emergency items such as food, blankets and bedding, shelter materials, drugs and medical supplies, drinking water and child protection programmes. In the medium term funds will be used to help get children back to school, repair and restore water supplies and revive peoples? livelihoods.

1.5 million people live in Gaza, 56% of whom are children. The whole population will have been affected by the conflict in some way.'

I don't think this is anything other than a human ewmergency, anything else ceases to matter.

tattycoram · 24/01/2009 20:10

The BBC is always desperate to be impartial and I think it pretty much manages it, so I'm not particularly surprised by this decision and I don't think it is necessarily the wrong one from their point of view. However, I do think that post Hutton it's far more cautious in general. There's a link here to the DEC donation page

Original poster
Nantucket · 24/01/2009 20:14

Any one know what other appeals the BBC has refused to Broadcast?

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hannahsaunt · 24/01/2009 20:35

Afghanistan was one they refused and Lebanon as well. I'm sure there have been others too. Can't imagine them running one for the people of Iraq anytime soon.

Original poster
Nantucket · 24/01/2009 21:48

Where those appeals launched by the DEC?

OP posts:
hannahsaunt · 25/01/2009 13:18

Yes - those were DEC appeals.

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