AN aid worker for an East Lancashire charity today told of a city full of people in shock after their experiences at the hands of Serbian soldiers when they tried to escape from Kosovo to Albanian border camps.

Chris Dakas is distributing supplies from the charity International Aid Trust who were sending another lorry-load of food, clothing and medical equipment today to him in Tirana, Albania.

As more than 4,000 Kosovars pour across the border every hour, the Albanian government is bussing them to other parts of the country.

More than 130,000 have been sent to the Tirana region, a few hours' drive from the border.

Speaking from Tirana, Chris said: "It is genocide, pure and simple. Most of the people are in shock. Some have lost family members, some have seen their families slaughtered and tortured before their eyes by Serbian police. Many of the women have lost their husbands.

"They all have different stories, but they are all stories about trauma and the worst is still to come.

"Here in Tirana, people are just wandering around trying to get a place to sleep, and are not really thinking about what's happened to them. "When they start to recover from their shock, they will realise their loss."

Chris said the Kosovars now flooding into Albania had remained in Yugoslavia despite months of Serbian fighting and now only wanted to go home.

He said: "Most left within an hour of being threatened, they have left everything they understand and don't want to live in a foreign country. They are sure that their homes have been burnt and their property stolen but all they want to do is go back."

The charity is housing 1,000 people in four centres and are hoping to open a larger centre soon, with help from East Lancashire people.

For several months, Chris has run the Stephen centre for street children in Tirana, funded by the International Aid Trust, of Withnell, near Chorley, and said the charity had been completely unprepared for the crisis.

"I never thought it would come to this," he said. "We really thought the situation would improve but now I don't know what's going to happen."

He appealed for generous Lancashire people to send money or unprocessed food such as flour, sugar, oil and beans to the charity. Mattresses, blankets, soap, hand-washing detergent, sanitary towels and nappies are also badly needed. Trust worker Don Heginbotham said experienced articulated lorry drivers were also needed to deliver aid over rough terrain to Albania. Scouts in East Lancashire have joined a nationwide campaign to provide emergency clothing and blankets to victims of the Kosova conflict.

A collection point has been set up at Bowley Scout Camp in Great Harwood.

Donations can be made between now and the weekend.

For further details ring the camp on 01254 884551 or John East on 0585 595189.

Oxfam is leading 15 aid agencies in a joint appeal for funds and are aiming to provide water supplies and sanitation facilities for people seeking sanctuary in Albania and Macedonia.

Donations can be made by calling 0870 6060900.

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