ACTIVISTS gathered in Oxford today to protest the United Nations' response to despair and starvation in Syria.

Student Abdullah Allabuani led the protest, which saw about twenty people chant with signs outside Westgate Centre in Castle Street.

The 30-year-old Syrian national, who moved to Headington in September, said the UN's delivery of food this week to starving families in Madaya was not enough.

He said: "They were able to get permission to enter food to Madaya which is a good thing, but this food is just for one city, for twenty days. It isn't a solution. People are starving to death.

"The United Nations should take serious action. But it gives a little hope that we can achieve something on the ground."

He acknowledged that it was hard for international organisations to get inside Syria, which has been torn apart by conflict for the past five years.

Mr Allabuani, who is on a university scholarship from the capital Damascus, had hoped more people would turn out to protest.

He said: "We expected a few more people, although many of the students will still be at home. But the main idea has been achieved - we were able to send the message that we are standing up for the Syrian people and putting pressure on the United Nations."

Sparked by anti-government protests against President Bashar al-Assad, the civil war has seen more than a quarter of a million Syrians die and millions of others forced from their homes as rebels take hold.

Mr Allabuani escaped the violence to study architecture and development at Oxford Brookes university.

He said: "My close family are in Turkey, Qatar and Beirut. I haven't seen them for a few months. I wish we could see each other one day, but now the countries require Visas."

He hoped more people would join him for his next protest on January 24, in London.