Desperate Syrian refugees in Greece and France are now benefiting from clothes donated by the island.

Some 18 boxes of winter clothing arrived at refugee camps recently.

And it was just in time said organiser Ona Mactavish, who said: ’Our men’s and teenage boys’ boxes of donations arrived safely to the Hope Project and by all accounts was so badly needed as they had completely run out of male clothes - good timing.

’Well done and big thanks to all involved in filling up these boxes.’

Ona, who lives in Ramsey, volunteered at refugee camps in Greece after seeing tragic images of Syrian refugee Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old who drowned in the Mediterranean in 2015.

She keeps in touch with the Hope Project - the charity that runs Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesvos - and baseed on their request made the appeal for winter clothing for teenage boys and men.

Conditions in the camps are ’terrible’ she said.

And they are deteriorating as even more leave camps in Turkey for Europe. ’The numbers are rapidly rising again,’ she said. ’To see it rising is terrifying. It’s freezing and conditions are terrible, it’s heartbreaking. Anything I can get is gratefully received, it will not change the situation but it will help.’

Ona thanked the public for responding to her appeal. ’The Isle of Man people have done it again, individuals and various groups across the island have shown amazing kindness and generosity in their response to gathering and donating winter clothes and footwear â?¦ The end result has made me feel very proud to be living here and part of such a caring community of people who have supported in many different ways to get 18 very large boxes filled up with good quality practical winter wear.’