Help needed in Bingham to load vital aid for refugees

The Nottinghamshire Police Aid Convoy charity needs help loading a huge lorry full of aid bound for refugees in Macedonia from 9am on Thursday (October 15).

Anyone who is available to help out is asked to go to the Bingham warehouse at the old police station, Grantham Road, NG13 8BW.

The consignment will be of blankets, clothing, bulk food and domestic items for families. The lorry is expected at the camp next Saturday or Sunday.

Retired Inspector David Scott was also one of the founding members of the charity 25 years ago and said: "These are echoes of how our charity commenced during the Balkans war of the 1990’s.

"The refugee camp we are aiming for was constructed for 1,000 people and now contains 3,000.

"These are people, mainly women and children, who want to return to Syria and Yemen but cannot because of the escalating wars.

"These are not economic migrants.

"They were forced from their homes with suitcases and backpacks and after months on the road, have been resettled in temporary camps.

"We will use that little bit of influence we have to guarantee safe and secure delivery."

Their partner charity is the Nottingham-based Muslim Hands charity who report that camps such of these are well organised with resident teachers, nurses and practical people who will arrange storage and fair distribution.

The UNHCR expect that there will be in excess of one million people arriving from the conflict zones in the next few months, most of whom would want to return when the conflict is over.

Contact 0844 9701 999 or email enqs@npac.org.uk for further information.