Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan had already been displaced by conflict and drought and, with a savage winter approaching and the war at its height, starvation and physical injury will see the death toll mount without more donations of medical supplies and food.

Taking the lead from George Bush and Tony Blair, Business Weekly subscribers have urged East of England companies to spare a thought for the innocent victims of the rising humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Paul Kerridge of KJ Holdings, part developer of the Cambridgeshire Business Park in Ely, and Business Weekly are sending donations to leading aid organisations this Christmas rather than send out cards to clients and suppliers.

Kerridge said: “Companies collectively expend thousands of pounds on Christmas cards - cash that could be better spent on humanitarian aid.

“After the horrors of September 11 it became clear that while the Allies pursued the guilty to bring them to justice, there would be thousands of innocent victims of this conflict.

“The Governments of Britain and America have given an exemplary lead to endeavour to help the starving and the innocent and it would be nice if the region’s business community could follow suit.”

Business Weekly is suggesting two relief organisations - the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Medecins Sans Frontieres - but businesses are, of course, free to choose another designated aid organisation.

Those businesses who participate in this initiative and can offer written proof - regardless of the size of donation - can place a free Christmas greetings message to clients, suppliers and general contacts in a special feature in Business Weekly in December.

To give to the ICRC, you can donate online at www.redcrossdonations.org.uk, by phone on 0207 201 5010 or post a cheque (payable to the British Red Cross) to British Red Cross, Afghan Crisis Appeal, Freepost MID 21782, Halesowen B63 3DR.

Medecins Sans Frontieres was launched by a group of French doctors frustrated by the inadequacy of the response to the Biafran crisis in the early ’70s.

Doctors throughout the world have since joined a massive network providing emergency medical relief to crisis hotspots.

To donate to MSF, send cheques made payable to Medecins Sans Frontieres, care of James Hampton, MSF, 124-132 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1R 5DJ (Tel: 020 7713 5600).