A GENEROUS East Yorkshire company has given thousands of pounds to help starving children in southern Africa.

Britcom International, of Market Weighton, has given £5,000 to UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, to further its aid efforts in Southern Africa.

The region is facing its worst food shortages in decades, due to economic decline, severe weather conditions, including drought and heavy rainfall, and widespread outbreaks of disease. An estimated 17.4 million people are at risk in the region, and half of these are children.

Jim Somerville, of Britcom, said: "As a company we have close business links with many of the countries that have been affected by this famine, and have been very moved by the desperate situation there.

"This donation of several thousand pounds from Britcom will go a long way towards helping UNICEF with its relief effort and alleviate this terrible suffering."

To address the problem of acute malnutrition, UNICEF is supporting a feeding programme for malnourished children and pregnant women, providing high-protein biscuits, therapeutic milk, essential drugs and blankets.

To control and prevent further outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, UNICEF is working with the Government and its partners to promote best hygiene practices.

Updated: 10:02 Saturday, January 04, 2003