An appeal has been made for clothing and footwear for teenage boys and men to be donated to desperate Syrian refugees to help them survive the winter.

The refugee crisis has slipped off the headlines but the agonisingly protracted problem is still there with millions of people displaced by conflict.

Donations from the island will go to 3,000 refugees at Moria camp in Greek island of Lesvos, where there are some 12,000 refugees altogether.

The delivery is organised by Ramsey resident Ona Mactavish, who volunteered at the camp in 2016.

She keeps in touch with those running the camp, so knows very specifically what’s needed.

’Young men tend to be the ones that don’t get as much as children and the others get,’ she said.

The lucky ones live in tents, many have no shelter at all, and as temperatures plummet, the situation in the camps is already ’terrible’ she said.

And it’s getting worse as even more leave camps in Turkey for Europe.

’The numbers are rapidly rising again,’ she said.

’The reasons are complex. There’s a lot of change in Turkey, which is hosting three million refugees.

’There is a change in their social policy and they’re returning them to Syria, back into areas that are not safe. A lot are going to Europe as it’s the only safe option â?¦ to see it rising is terrifying. It’s freezing and conditions are terrible, it’s heart-breaking.

’Anything I can get is gratefully received, it will not change the situation but it will help.’

Ona was prompted to help refugees after seeing images of Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy who drowned in 2015 in the Mediterranean Sea.

’Seeing the little boy washed up sparked me into action,’ she said.

’I decided I wanted to go to Greece and help. After I went I thought I cannot not keep going.’

She keeps in touch with the Hope Project, which distributes aid to the most vulnerable.

’They’re very proactive,’ she said. ’They know who’s the most neglected. They have their finger on the pulse. They know what’s needed.

’I’ve been sending deliveries twice a year.

’Nothing goes to a warehouse and sits, which does happen, it goes to where it’s needed.’

She pays for deliveries herself - she said it’s cheaper than her flying there to help.

She added: ’You can’t change the situation, that’s at a higher political level, but on a humanitarian level you can do something even if you give a pair of socks, whatever people can give, if you look at the big picture it’s too daunting.

Resilient

’Refugees are such brave, resilient people and they have nothing but they give so much, that left a huge mark on me.

’I was overwhelmed by people’s kindness, especially young men. They’ve been called up to fighting and so many ran away from fighting in the war.

’So many have been tortured in military prison.They can be stigmatised, but they’re no different to boys over here.’

â?¢ Winter jackets, fleeces, waterproofs, trousers, jeans, jumpers, sweatshirts, boots, trainers, hats, gloves and scarfs for teenage boys and men can be given to: Cat Jenkins, 16 Westminster Terrace, Douglas; Shakti Man, Ramsey; and Lyn Matthews, 22 Scarlett Road, Castletown.

The deadline for donations is October 31.