currently fleeing war-torn Kosovo.

Lucy Willitts, head of the charity organisation the Medjugorje Peace Plan Group, is hoping to get a container full of donated clothing, shoes, blankets and food to the region as soon as possible.

And she is also planning to travel to neighbouring Bosnia next month.

On Saturday morning, Peace Plan Group staff will be on hand to accept donations of clothing and bedding from members of the public at the organisation's warehouse at the former US Air base.

So far the container, measuring about 20 feet by ten feet, is half full.

Kosovo appeal But because of the expense of shipping -- it costs more than $3,000 to transport the cargo to Bosnia -- Mrs. Willitts does not want to send it out until it is full.

"I want to send it as quickly as possible -- this week, next week, this month,'' Mrs. Willitts said.

"But I'm worried that it may be too little too late. A lot of people are being slaughtered and the situation in Kosovo is desperate. But we will do our best to get something to them.

Once the container is full it will be airlifted to Split in Bosnia, another former region of Yugoslavia. Mrs. Willitts is hopeful that at least some of the consignment will make its way to Kosovo in the south of the region.

The organisation is also desperate for cash to pay for the carriage charges.

Donations, including cheques made payable to the Peace Plan Group, can be sent to PO Box HM1968, Hamilton, HMHX. The group can also be contacted on 292 6185.

Meanwhile the head of the Bermuda Red Cross said his organisation had not been called in to provide aid in the humanitarian disaster.

Bermuda Red Cross director Frank Gamble said: "Our position is that we cannot initiate anything unless there's an international appeal and that hasn't happened yet.

"These appeals that are launched are either regional, such as with Hurricane Hugo or international, such as Rwanda.

"When the International Red Cross launched an appeal for Rwanda we supported it but we can't initiate appeals on behalf of a foreign country.

"Although I have seen Red Cross people working out there I haven't seen anything in terms of appeals. The problem is, if you do launch an appeal, where do you send the aid when you have a population that's on the move?''