People queue to donate to Oxfam collection

NEW clothing and Christmas presents are among the thousands of items on sale at Oxfam stores nationwide in the quest to raise funds for relief in southeast Asia.

Along with €300,000 in cash donated at Oxfam shops north and south of the border, people have been queuing to hand over items of value for sale in the shops.

Oxfam Ireland retail manager Trevor Anderson said: “It would be much too expensive for us to send clothing and blankets, but we are most grateful for these donations (for sale).”

The organisation is currently in talks with a large retailer in the North to use its premises for sales space.

People have been queueing up to donate, including children donating pocket money and pensioners giving their allowances.

“We did not think we would ever see a bigger response than we got during the 1984 Ethiopia Famine Appeal, but the Asia Earthquake Floods Appeal has surpassed even that,” Mr Anderson said.

On the ground in Sri Lanka Oxfam is involved in efforts to distribute essential clothing items, plastic sheeting and, most importantly, establish water distribution points.