DEAR EDITOR -- There are few constants during an emergency, but one is that children -- the most innocent and vulnerable of all -- are among the first to suffer.

Already this is the case in Afghanistan, where of the estimated 7.5 million Afghans, who may have to rely on aid to survive the combined threats of war, drought and winter this year, 70 per cent will be children and women, with 20 per cent being children under the age of five.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has launched an emergency appeal for £24 million to provide life-saving medicines, water purification supplies, nutritional supplements for malnourished youngsters, oral re-hydration salts to combat the deadly effects of diarrhoea.

And there are many other relief items that will be vitally needed -- including blankets, clothing, water containers and education kits for makeshift classrooms.

A series of UNICEF relief flights into the region are now underway.

Supplies will be positioned throughout the region close to the Afghan borders, to be available if a crisis develops at the borders, or to be trucked into Afghanistan as soon as the situation stabilises and borders re-open.

UNICEF is determined to get these supplies to the children who need them, wherever we are able to reach them.

Without help, millions of children simply will not make it through the winter.

We ask your readers to please find it in their hearts to support our efforts to help the innocent children of Afghanistan.

l £25 will provide enough blankets to keep 36 children warm at night

Z £46 provides basic health needs for 200 people for 3 months

l £75 will provide 800 children with a litre of clean water

Donations to support the appeal can be sent to-- UNICEF, Afghanistan Crisis Appeal, PO Box 186, Tweedale, TF3 5UZ.

Linda McCaughey,

Regional fundraising

manager - Midlands,

UNICEF.