More aid is being flown out from Oxfam's emergency response warehouse to help the refugees fleeing Kosovo's killing fields.

The Oxford-based charity is increasing the level of aid as the full horror of the crisis unfolds.

Two articulated lorries were loaded with 20 tonnes of aid, mostly water tanks and buckets yesterday at the warehouse in Bicester to help supply fresh water to the refugees.

Oxfam has several engineers in the region and the fresh water will help stem the spread of disease as the refugee centres fill with people fleeing the conflict. The equipment was being driven to Stansted Airport from where it was due to be flown to Skopje, in Macedonia, this morning.

Stock controller Carol Curtis said: "We don't know how long the conflict will go on for so we are always ready to load more stock.

"These latest crates will help with fresh water supplies."

Fully-laden trucks have been leaving the warehouse, in Murdock Road, every few days as the crisis worsens. Last week several lorries were packed with aid bound for Copenhagen, Denmark, from where they were airlifted to the Albanian capital, Tirana, to help refugees.

Another Oxfam aid plane was expected to leave Copenhagen, Denmark, bound for Tirana today.

A spokesman for the charity said: "We have teams in Albania and Macedonia looking at where the equipment will be needed.

"People are arriving traumatised and tired after a long trek, their defences are low, and it is absolutely essential they have clean water and proper sanitation to prevent disease." Luli Gjeka, Oxfam's representative in Albania, said he believed the country has seen more than 100,000 refugees so far, with up to another 60,000 expected over the next few days.

He said: "The situation is chaotic, but is under control."

Story date: Thursday 08 April

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