York was today emerging as a possible haven for refugee families who have escaped the horrors of war-torn Kosovo.

As aid agencies battle with the tide of homeless pouring out of the province, the Government is drawing up emergency plans to offer shelter to thousands.

International Development Secretary Clare Short was today making an announcement on the Government's response to the crisis.

But it is known to be examining empty Ministry of Defence properties as possible temporary homes for the stricken families.

York, with its empty army homes, could be earmarked as the Government tries to spread the burden of asylum seekers away from Kent and London.

Although the homes are now owned by a private company, Annington Homes, its managing director said today there would be no problem if the MoD decided to use them for refugees.

Coun David Horton, vice-chair of City of York Council housing committee, said there were empty MoD homes in Foxwood, Fulford and Strensall, though it is unclear exactly how many could be used.

York MP Hugh Bayley said: "We can't turn our backs on this crisis any more than we could turn our backs on the victims of the Nazi Holocaust in the Second World War.

"If there are empty homes in the city, they should be made available to the local authority for use, both by York families and any refugees that might arrive in York."

Mr Bayley said York had shown its willingness to welcome refugees when the Bar Convent invited 40 Bosnian families to stay.

Meanwhile, the British people were today urged to come to the aid of the stricken Kosovar people by donating to a co-ordinated charity appeal set up by the main UK aid agencies dealing with the Balkan refugee crisis.

The Disasters' Emergency Committee appeal links 12 leading charities who are already bringing food, shelter, sanitation and other help to the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians expelled from their homeland.

At this morning's launch, in Central London, the director general of the British Red Cross, Sam Younger, said that an estimated half a million people now needed help.

Ama Annan, who has just returned from the Albanian border, where she was co-ordinating efforts for Christian Aid, spoke of the thousands of children who were so traumatised they could neither eat nor speak, having all apparently witnessed their parents' murders.

She said: "Some people have had no food and water for up to five days. When I was on the border two mornings ago, within half an hour, three people died.''

Tonight, in five-minute broadcasts, the television presenter Jill Dando, on the BBC, and the actress Juliet Stevenson, on ITV, will appeal for increased donations.

The airlift of refugees finally got off the ground today when more than 1,000 stumbled off planes in Turkey and Norway today.

Colonel Mike Moody told journalists at the Ministry of Defence briefing today that it was now thought that there were 135,000 refugees in Macedonia, 62,000 in Montenegro and more than 220,000 in Albania.

There were reports of a "20-kilometre queue of humanity" at one border crossing in Albania.

Yugoslav officials confirmed today they were holding Australia aid workers Steve Pratt and Peter Wallace, who went missing six days ago.

How you can help:

Send donations to: Kosovo Crisis Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC4A 9AA

Or for credit card donations call: 0990 22 22 33

Clive seeks mercy trip aid

by Janet Hewison and Emma Harrison

MERCY mission leader Clive Phoenix today made a desperate plea for more cash to fund his trip to Albania.

Clive Phoenix, who is going out to Albania to help the refugees, shows his computer mapping system Picture: Steven Bradshaw

Ex-serviceman Mr Phoenix plans to leave on Friday to take aid to refugees from Kosovo but has only the £3,000 needed for the outward journey.

He needs another £6,000 to pay for his team of ten volunteers to come home.

The group plans to leave regardless of further donations - each volunteer is laying independent plans to get home after the mission to take two seven-and-a-half tonne trucks and two Land Rovers out.

They will be taking a field kitchen and two sets of water purifying equipment and hope to buy plastic sheeting and blankets for shelter.

Mr Phoenix, secretary of the Haxby-based charity WATCH (World Air Transport Communications and Health), said he was still waiting for a letter from the Albanian Government via its embassy giving them authority to go.

"We just want a letter of authority from the Government - whether we get that or not before Friday I don't know," said Mr Phoenix, a veteran of several Bosnian aid missions.

He said the group was also appealing for a third Land Rover. This would have to be donated rather than loaned because it may well have to be left in Albania.

Mr Phoenix can be contacted on 01904 750508 and donations can be sent to WATCH, 5, Goland Cottages, Usher Lane, Haxby, York YO32 3LE.

Meanwhile Scouts in North Yorkshire will be collecting clothing and blankets from the public next weekend.

Warm clothing and blankets should be brought to the following collection points:

York: Elvington Scout Hut, Wheldrake Lane, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm. St Thomas church, opposite Haxby Road School, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm.

Pickering: Pickering station car park, Saturday, 11am-4pm.

Malton: Wentworth Street Scout hut, Sunday, 11am-2pm.

Norton: Howe Road Scout hut, Saturday, Noon-2pm.

Harrogate: Omega Street Scout hut, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm.

Northallerton: Malpass Road Scout hut, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm.

Easingwold: Scout Headquarters, off Long Street, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm.

Thirsk: Cross Country Event at the Thirsk and Sowerby Institute, Sunday, 1-3pm.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.