Please give to ease plight of Bosnia: Donations to 'Independent' appeal to support charities reach pounds 11,000 in first few days but more are urgently needed

READERS have already donated more than pounds 11,000 to the Independent appeal, launched last week, to support 15 organisations working to ease the desperate plight of the people of Bosnia.

Relief agencies are redoubling their efforts to help the 2.7 million people in former Yugoslavia who are entirely dependent on aid, as winter bites hard, with temperatures down to minus 25C. Convoys are moving food and, occasionally, materials for shelter and warmth into central Bosnia and the besieged Muslim enclaves, but nowhere near enough to meet the demand. Charities ranging from international organisations such as Oxfam, Care and the Red Cross to lesser-known groups are playing their part but more financial help is urgently needed.

If you would like to support one or more of the charitable organisations please send a separate cheque for each donation, made payable to the organisation - with the wording as indicated below - and send to: Bosnia Appeal, The Independent, 40 City Road, London EC1Y 2DB.

1 War Child Now; 2 Victims of War Appeal (former Yugoslavia) - this for the Red Cross; 3 Care; 4 Cafod (Bosnia); 5 Christian Aid (Bosnia); 6 Edinburgh Direct Aid; 7 Feed the Children; 8 Help the Aged Former Yugoslavia Appeal; 9 Islamic Relief Bosnia Fund; 10 Marie Stopes International (Bosnia); 11 Oxfam; 12 The Refugee Council; 13 Save the Children Fund; 14 Scottish European Aid; 15 UNA Trust Bosnia.

For every donation to one or more charity, the Independent will add 10 per cent, up to pounds 30,000.

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