War in the Balkans: Help desperate plight of victims

THE FLOOD of refugees from Kosovo continues and the refugee camps in Macedonia and Albania are at breaking point. Aid agencies say that thousands of people are sleeping in the open. More than 600,000 Kosovo Albanians have fled their homes and most of them are destitute and face an uncertain future.

The generous readers of The Independent have donated a tremendous pounds 750,000 which has helped to buy food, blankets and hygiene kits.

The Disasters Emergency Committee has organised a co-ordinated appeal to ensure that your money quickly goes to help those who need it most. This appeal has raised a total of pounds 25m. The joint appeal ends at midnight tonight and will then be replaced by separate appeals by the DEC's member charities.

To make a donation:

Please send a cheque or postal order payable to Kosovo Appeal to the Disasters Emergency Committee to: PO Box 2710, London W1A 5AD. Or call 0990-22 22 33 to make a credit-card donation.