Monday, January 12, 2009

save the children

Unprecedented response as British public signs up to Save the Children's 'Enough is Enough' Gaza ceasefire campaign

Monday, 12, Jan 2009 12:00

In an overwhelming gesture of support for Gaza ceasefire, tens of thousands of British people have responded to Save the Children's 'Enough is Enough' texting campaign, launched on Friday. By Monday morning, 100,000 texts had been received, and at its peak on Saturday night, the organisation was receiving a text every second. Save the Children believes this is the biggest response yet to a charity texting campaign.

Adrian Lovett, Save the Children’s Director of Campaigns, said: “This is an unprecedented response and the message from our text campaign is loud and clear – the British public want an end to the bombing in Gaza. A huge number of the British public care what is happening in Gaza and have taken action. Politicians are well aware of those messages and we will continue to ensure their voices are heard. Right now the fighting is still going on and one child dies in Gaza every three hours. Public support can and must make a change.”

As the campaign continues, Save the Children will take the message to Downing Street this week that the British public have clearly indicated that enough is enough, and that the British government must respond to their call by pursuing an end to the violence with the utmost vigour. 189 children have been killed, after 15 days of bombing. The humanitarian needs are immense. People in Gaza are in desperate need of food, medical supplies and access to clean water and good sanitation. Currently 80% of all drinking water is not fit for human consumption and sewage is flooding the streets and refugee camps, leaving thousands at risk of water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, one of the biggest killers of children.

Throughout the crisis, Save the Children has continued to work in Gaza delivering much needed food and medical supplies to the children and families whose lives have been damaged by the continuing bombardment.

To add your voice to the petition text CEASEFIRE to 81819.

For more information visit www.savethechildren.org.uk

Notes to editors:

Save the Children has staff on the ground in Gaza, Jerusalem and London. To arrange interviews or for more information please contact Susannah Parker on +44 (0)207 012 6848 or, out of hours, +44 (0)7831 650 409.

Save the Children has launched an Appeal to raise £6.8 million for the people of Gaza.

· £25 can provide enough Plumpy’nut (high protein food) to feed eight malnourished children for a week.

· £50 can provide warm blankets for 16 children which are essential to keep them warm through the night now that it is winter in Gaza.

· £70 can buy 10 large tarpaulins to repair homes damaged by the air strikes.

For more information visit www.savethechildren.org.uk


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