War in the Balkans: Appeal raises pounds 5m in 24 hours

A NATIONAL appeal to aid Kosovo refugees has raised more than pounds 5m within 24 hours of its official launch.

Phone lines were jammed within seconds of two separate five-minute pleas for Kosovo Crisis Appeal, by the presenter Jill Dando on BBC and the actress Juliet Stevenson on ITV, on Tuesday evening.

The appeal is run by the Disasters Emergency Committee, the co-ordinating body of the 12 British charities involved in aid relief in Kosovo. The huge response came after harrowing media coverage of the crisis. A DEC spokeswoman said: "Everyone has been incredibly generous." The Independent started the DEC appeal last week ahead of the official launch and readers have so far raised more than pounds 150,000. Donations can be made to the appeal on 0870 6060900 or 0990 222233.