The Disasters Emergency Committee's Gaza Crisis Appeal has raised a total of more than £6m in the three days since it has launched.

More than £4.5m of this total was raised in less than 24 hours of the appeal’s launch. The initial surge in funding came after the DEC launched its Gaza Crisis Appeal on Friday evening across all major UK broadcasters.

The appeal has received substantial support from the Department for International Development, which matched the first £2m donated to the public pound-for-pound.

Saleh Saeed, chief executive at DEC, said: "Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and need food, water, shelter and often medical treatment. Now a ceasefire is again in place DEC member agencies will redouble their efforts to meet the basic needs of as many people as possible.

“Plans to restore key civilian infrastructure including water and sanitation can now begin to be put into effect. But with the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, our member agencies urgently need more money to scale up their life-saving work.

“The fact that the Gaza Crisis Appeal has reached more than £6m in the first three days is a testament to the amazing generosity of the British public. We have also benefited from the kind support of DFID, which matched the first £2m donated by the public.”

The BBC has made and broadcast television and radio appeals and promoted the appeal online, while ITN has produced an appeal for commercial television which has been shown by ITV, Channel 4, Sky and Channel Five. 

Last year's DEC Philippines Typhoon appeal raised £13m in 24 hours, while its 2013 Syria crisis appeal raised £3.4m in the first 24 hours.