The Bermuda Red Cross has launched an appeal for donations to assist those at risk of starvation in West Africa.

Red Cross director, Ann Spencer-Arscott said yesterday appeals are being made for Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso.

She said the initial appeal from the British Red Cross was for $5 million and appealed to Bermudians to open their hearts and their wallets to the crisis which threatens the lives of millions of people.

Drought and locusts ravaged last October?s harvest in West Africa, leaving an estimated 3.6 million people in Niger and 1.6 million in neighbouring Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso short of food and threatens the lives of tens of thousands of starving children.

Meanwhile the UN agency, the World Food Programme, reports to have a plan in place to tackle the food crisis, but a slow response from international donors to its repeated appeals for cash and problems buying food in the region limit its ability to respond.

Members of the public can donate funds directly into the following West Africa Crisis Appeal accounts:

Bank of Bermuda account: 701-19842;

Bank of Butterfield: 20-006-060-663859-200;

Capital G Bank: 35760

Donations can also be mailed directly to the Bermuda Red Cross, West Africa Crisis Appeal, Charleswood, 9 Berry Hill Road, Paget, DV 03.

Members of the public can also make donations over the telephone by calling The Bermuda Red Cross at 236-8253.

Bermuda Airport handled 8,000 arrivals and departures in just two days without any hitch over the Cup Match weekend, according acting general manager Michael Osborn.

The load was 400 up on the previous weekend and 500 up on the normal summer schedule.

Mr. Osborn said: ?I would be surprised if it wasn?t the highest for some time. It went very smoothly, all agencies seemed to have worked very well over that holiday weekend.?

The load was spread over 64 arrivals and departures on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr. Osborn conceded that the large number wasn?t all tourists but would have included a high proportion of returning residents who left over Cup Match.

The public is advised to watch out for thieves who pose as supporters of the Women?s Resource Centre.

WRC executive director Penny Dill said men were at Lindo?s at the weekend soliciting money claiming to represent the charity.

?We have contacted Lindo?s to let them know and also suggest to members of the public that they verify anyone purporting to collect money for charity by contacting the charity itself if it is not an official tag day. We always get permission to use premises and they can always check with the manager of the store,? said Mrs. Dill.