PUPILS at Oxfordshire’s only Muslim school have launched an appeal for victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Tens of thousands of people are feared dead following the tremor, which struck last Tuesday and is thought to have affected as many as three million people, a third of the Caribbean nation’s population.

In response to the crisis, the Iqra School in Littlemore has launched an appeal to raise £25,000 towards aid efforts for the people injured and homeless following the earthquake, which measured 7.0 on the Richter scale.

Chairman of trustees Dr Hojjat Ramzy said he hoped people would dig deep to help.

He said: “It’s an absolute disaster, the country has been literally crippled.

“We’re trying to raise £25,000 from the Muslim community, from the mosques and businesses and anyone else who can contribute.”

The school has co-ordinated a series of appeals following other disasters around the world. Last year, it raised thousands for those affected by the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, and contributed more than £3,000 towards rescue efforts after a devastating earthquake in Pakistan in November 2008.

Dr Ramzy said: “This is important for us to do, because it’s a humanitarian disaster which has killed so many people, including a lot of children. It’s our duty to help.

“We’re always in desperate need for funds ourselves to run the school, but Haiti is taking priority, because it’s a matter of life and death for so many little children and people who have been hit hard.”

He said girls at the school were already planning ways to help, with some giving up their lunch money, others carrying out sponsored fasts, some baking cakes and others pledging to go door-to-door collecting cash for the appeal.

The money will be distributed through charities Islamic Relief and Muslim Aid.

Christian Aid has also launched a £1m emergency appeal following the disaster.

Oxfam is hoping to dispatch water supply equipment to Haiti from its Bicester supply depot today or tomorrow.

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk

HOW TO HELP

Donations can be made to the Iqra School (Haiti Appeal) account at the NatWest Bank’s Cowley Road, sort code 60-16-06, account number 74502395, or send cheques to 8 St Omer Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 3HB, or direct to the Iqra School, Lawn Upton House, David Nicholls Close, Littlemore, Oxford, OX4 4PU. Make cheques payable to Iqra School (Haiti Appeal).