UNICEF would like to send a huge thank you to all those who have already made a donation to UNICEF's Afghanistan Crisis Appeal.

As you may know, it is estimated that of the seven million Afghans who have to rely on aid to survive the combined threats of war, drought and winter this year - 70 per cent of those will be children and women, and 20 per cent will be children under the age of five.

With help from public donations UNICEF has already made significant inroads:

Our five truck convoy reached Kandahar from Quetta, transporting desperately-needed children's sweaters, blankets and household family health kits.

Trucks bearing UNICEF items have arrived in Mazar-e-Sharif.

In Faizabad, UNICEF is distributing shoes, winter clothing and family kits to more than 1,000 families.

Education for the children is also seen by UNICEF as crucial at this stage, as the need to re-establish a degree of normality for the children is so important.

Despite difficulties in access and communication UNICEF has achieved all of this over a short period of time but it still not enough. Thousands of tons of relief supplies are still needed and we would ask youto be as generous as they can, before it is too late for the innocent children of Afghanistan. £25 will provide enough blankets to keep 36 children warm at night. £75 will provide 800 children with a litre of clean water. £146 will provide a school-in-a-box kit for 80 students.

Please made cheques payable to UNICEF and send to the address below.

ROSE NELSON,

Regional fund-raising manager,

Freepost,

Chelmsford.