Al Jazeera Commits to The Disasters Emergency Committee

Al Jazeera Commits to The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) in UK to Broadcast Humanitarian Aid Appeal Announcements for Victims of Gaza War


Doha Qatar, January 24, 2009: Al Jazeera English today announced that it contacted The Disasters Emergency Committee in the UK to support their call to broadcast announcements for humanitarian aid for the victims of the Gaza War. Al Jazeera English has pledged to run public service announcements in UK prime time on Al Jazeera English at no cost in support of the Committee's appeal. The announcements will begin running on Monday January 26. The appeal will be broadcast to UK citizens both in the UK and across the world with Al Jazeera English's global reach to over 130 million households.

Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee Brendan Gormley said, "We launched the Gaza Crisis Appeal as the devastation wrought in the Gazan territory was so huge that British aid agencies were compelled to act and we are pleased with Al Jazeera's support to broadcast the humanitarian aid appeal announcements. DEC agencies have a humanitarian mandate and there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza today. Political solutions are for others to resolve, but what is of major concern to us all is that many innocent people have been affected by the situation - and it is them that we seek to help."

Tony Burman, Managing Director of Al Jazeera English stated, "We are committed to supporting the Disasters Emergency Committee's humanitarian aid initiative for the victims in Gaza. As a news organization whose mandate it is to give a voice to the voiceless wherever they may be we will use Al Jazeera English's extensive reach to citizens in the UK and across the world to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I am pleased by the partnership with DEC on this initiative and we look forward to collaborating with DEC on further humanitarian aid initiatives in other regions across the world."

Al Jazeera English can be seen in the UK on Sky Guide number 514, on Freesat 203, and online at www.livestation.com/aje.


About Al Jazeera
Launched in 2006, Al Jazeera English is the world's first international English language news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East. With unique access as the channel of reference for Middle East events, and broadcast centres strategically placed around the world in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, Al Jazeera English is balancing the information flow from South to North, providing independent and impartial news for a global audience from a grassroots level, giving voice to different perspectives from under-reported regions around the world. The channel now reaches over 130 million households in over a hundred countries.

Al Jazeera started out over twelve years ago as the first independent Arabic news channel in the world dedicated to providing comprehensive television news and live debate for the Arab world. In 2006, Al Jazeera was ranked by brandchannel.com as the most impactful television broadcast news brand globally. As a result of its expansion and the creation of new channels and services, Al Jazeera was formally named the Al Jazeera Network in March 2006, transforming its operation into an international media corporation. The Al Jazeera Network now consists of the flagship Al Jazeera Arabic channel, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Documentary, Al Jazeera Sport, Al Jazeera.net (the English and Arabic web sites), the Al Jazeera Media Training and Development Center, the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Al Jazeera Mubasher (Live), and Al Jazeera Mobile.
Web: www.aljazeera.net/english


About The Disasters Emergency Committee
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) was formed in 1963. We are an umbrella organisation for 13 humanitarian aid agencies. At times of overseas emergency, the DEC brings together a unique alliance of the UK's aid, corporate, public and broadcasting sectors to rally the nation's compassion, and ensure that funds raised go to DEC agencies best placed to deliver effective and timely relief to people most in need.

For more info visit: www.dec.org.uk

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