As thousands of sick and wounded refugees pour over the borders into neighbouring states, we are calling on all our readers to help relieve their plight.

More than 400,000 men, women and children have fled their homes for Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, Turkey and Bosnia in the last two weeks.

Aid charities have been racing against time to set up makeshift camps and ship out vital supplies of food and clothing.

Now we want YOU to help the relief effort by sending cash to the United Nations Children's Fund and we promise you can monitor the help your money brings through the Argus.

The Evening Argus UNICEF Kosovo Appeal will co-ordinate your donations and make sure the money gets to where it is needed most.

Just £5.44 will pay for 100 syringes and £22 will buy enough purification tablets for 700 litres of water.

Argus Deputy Editor Chris Chandler said: "Here in Europe there is a tragedy beyond belief.

"I know our readers will want to do all they can to relieve the suffering of the thousands flooding over the borders from Kosovo."

UNICEF's South East regional officer, Edward Carwardine, added: "In many ways this is becoming the worst humanitarian crisis since the Second World War.

"The primary need for women and children at the moment is for medicines.

"Because the kids are so weak they haven't got the strength to fight diseases off, and today we even had a report of a meningitis outbreak.

"We desperately need medical supplies to keep going out there, so we can continue vaccinating children where necessary and treat them for illnesses they have now."

The launch of our appeal comes as UNICEF focuses its efforts on distributing relief supplies to the estimated 60,000 refugees stranded in a "no-man's land" between Kosovo and Macedonia.

It is also now setting up a register of unaccompanied children - so far the charity has counted 150.

Charity spokeswoman Sally Burnheim, an eyewitness to the mass exodus, told the Argus: "The death toll of around 20 people a day is likely to rise, with inadequate food, water, sanitation and medicines.

"Already there has been one confirmed case of meningitis and two suspected polio cases.

"A French doctor at the overstretched medical post told us they are receiving a new patient every minute.

"They are being brought in, young and old, on stretchers, blankets, in wheelbarrows and on the arms of relatives.

"Many are suffering from hysteria and exhaustion."

Among the main items the Argus appeal is hoping to buy are syringes, blankets, water purification tablets, emergency sanitation kits, oral rehydration salts and essential antibiotics.

To coincide with the campaign, we are also inviting readers to hold their own fund-raising events.

And those who wish to donate old blankets and clothing to the refugees can do so by delivering them to their local branch of Kwik Fit.

To make a donation, use the special coupon on this page.

Cheques and postal orders made payable to UNICEF can be sent to The Evening Argus UNICEF Kosovo Appeal, 3 Cheam Lodge, Bedford Avenue, Bexhill, East Sussex TN40 1ND.

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