LESS than two years ago people were 'celebrating' the Millennium and spending vast amounts of money on fireworks displays and parties.

Looking at all the people still suffering throughout the world, it's a shame that all this 'spare' money couldn't have been used to help them instead. Closer to home many local charities struggle to raise cash for the needy.

I find it difficult to justify how one person is able to win millions of pounds on the National Lottery each week. Here, in a relatively wealthy country, we are still encouraging comparatively well off people to be even more greedy by winning huge amounts of money on TV shows while millions on the other side of the world go hungry, have nowhere to live and are dying of disease. I hope some of these 'new millionaires' share part of their winnings with the less well off.

Jean Weston,

Lycett Road,

Dringhouses, York.

...OXFAM'S Yorkshire and North East Campaigns Office has been inundated with calls from local people wanting to know how they can help the people of Afghanistan. Right now 2.5 million face a desperate lack of food and, as winter approaches, the situation can only get worse. The crisis in Afghanistan is becoming one of the greatest humanitarian challenges the international community has ever faced.

Oxfam is working in extremely difficult conditions to deliver supplies in Afghanistan to those in most need before the onset of winter in mid- November. But if more life-saving aid does not arrive before the snow, many more people face starvation.

Write to Tony Blair today and ask him to urge the international community to allow food into Afghanistan before the snows arrive and overland routes become impassable. To donate to Oxfam's Afghanistan appeal call 0845 303 0023, or call in at your local Oxfam shop or through our website at www.oxfam.org.uk/afghanistan.

Rebecca Palmer,

Campaigns Officer,

Oxfam Afghanistan Crisis Appeal,

Park Row, Leeds.

Updated: 10:29 Thursday, October 25, 2001