Only one week after we launched our joint Evening Press-Unicef appeal to help the children of Kosovo, the total raised by readers has reached nearly £3,650.

Regional officer for the international charity, Sandra Howarth, said the response was staggering and praised the generosity of all those who have donated to the appeal.

Unicef, the United Nations Children's Fund, is working in Albania and Macedonia helping the thousands of refugees who have had to leave their native Kosovo.

Sandra, who is based in Strensall, York, said: "I am amazed at the generosity of Evening Press readers; this is a tremendous tribute to the people of the region.

"Unicef still needs vital funds to continue the mammoth task of helping thousands of women and children in such appalling situations. I do hope Evening Press readers will continue to support us in any way they can."

She said the total raised so far was £3,642.89. This could pay for:

52,041 oral rehydration sachets;

Enough drugs to immunise 404 children against six killer diseases;

66,965 syringes for administering vital drugs;

Enough water purification tablets for 115,910 litres;

99 emergency sanitation and hygiene kits containing soap, towels, portable toilets, disinfectant and wash basins;

Enough medicines such as antibiotics for up to 7,286 children.

She said the latest reports from Unicef showed that about 523,700 Kosovan refugees were now in neighbouring countries.

The Scouts' Kosovo appeal brought in more than 35 tons of clothing and blankets over the space of one weekend thanks to the generosity of people from North Yorkshire, writes Rebecca Gilbert.

A team of more than 200 people were involved in collecting, sorting and loading the goods on to four articulated TNT lorries which are now transporting them to the war-torn region to alleviate the plight of the refugees.

Jim Boam, county commissioner for Scouting in North Yorkshire, said: "It has been a mammoth effort. At one stage we just couldn't manage it any more so we called upon Imphal Barracks, which sent down a staff sergeant and eight men instantly.

"I understand they were about to go out on a PT exercise and we ended up with this bunch of fit young lads who did more work in 20 minutes than our team of three managed in three hours.

"They were like a whirlwind and we were delighted." The collection point for the donated items was the Raylor Centre, James Street, York, where three storage units were donated free of charge by the company.

Mr Boam said: "We have had a wonderful response from practically everyone we have approached or help.

"As far as the Scouts are concerned, the campaign is now over and any other clothing and blankets should be addressed to the charity shops as we don't propose to collect anything more at this stage."

According to Mr Boam the appeal brought in about 1,200 tons of clothing and blankets nationally, far outreaching original expectations of 250 tons.

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