A BOSNIAN refugee living in York is issuing a desperate SOS after her nephew in Sarajevo developed leukaemia.

Genna Grandich, of New Earswick, says nine-year-old Adnan Kuldija was diagnosed seven weeks ago as suffering one of the worst forms of the illness.

But she says he has still not been given any chemotherapy and there is no prospect of a bone marrow transplant in Bosnia.

She believes shortages of drugs and medical equipment in Bosnia since the war are preventing doctors offering the help he would receive in the west.

"His father - my brother - has been ringing me to see if I can help," said Mrs Grandich, who has been living in York since she fled the fighting in Sarajevo in 1992.

"He and his wife, who are both themselves doctors in Sarajevo, are absolutely desperate.

"Their other son was born paralysed and Adnan was his only healthy child. He is wondering if anyone in England can help, but I'm an ordinary person and don't know how to begin finding help."

Mrs Grandich says she turned to the Evening Press and its readers to see if they could help after reading how an Acomb patient had received a transplant from a relative.

She wondered if Adnan could be brought to England to receive the treatment he needs, if perhaps some individual or organisation could assist with funding the trip.

Mrs Grandich said she had come to York with her three children to escape the fighting in Bosnia, staying initially at the Bar Convent before moving to Acomb and then New Earswick. She said she worked as a carer at a local home.

*Anyone able to assist Adnan in some way should contact Mike Laycock on 01904 567132, or e-mail him on mike.laycock@ycp.co.uk.