THERE are few constants during an emergency, but one is that children - the most innocent and vulnerable of all - are among the first to suffer.

This is clearly the case in Afghanistan, where of the estimated 7.5 million Afghans who may have to rely on aid to survive the combined threats of war, drought and winter this year, 70pc will be children and women, and a total of 20pc will be children under the age of five.

UNICEF, the United National Children's Fund, has just launched an emergency appeal for £24 million to provide life-saving medicines, water purification supplies, nutritional supplements for malnourished youngsters, oral re-hydration salts to combat deadly diarrhoea, and other relief items including blankets, clothing, water containers and education kits for makeshift classrooms.

Already a series of UNICEF relief flights into the region are underway, and these supplies will be positioned throughout the region close to the Afghan borders, to be available if a crisis develops at the border, or otherwise to be trucked into Afghanistan as soon as the situation stabilises and borders re-open.

UNICEF is determined to get these supplies to the children who need them, wherever we are able to reach them. Without help, millions of children will not make it through the winter. We ask your readers to please find it in their hearts to support our efforts to help the innocent children of Afghanistan. £25 will provide enough blankets to keep 36 children warm at night. £46 provides basic health needs for 200 people for 3 months. £75 will provide 800 children with a litre of clean water.

LOUIS COLES

UNICEF UK

Updated: 11:39 Thursday, October 11, 2001