SAVE THE Children shops are launching an urgent appeal to help children in south Asia who are affected by floods.

At least 10 million children across Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are at risk.

Homes have been swept away, water supplies have been contaminated and people are exposed to the dangers of diseases. In total, more than 23 million people are affected.

Rob McMillan, Save the Children’s retail manager for Scotland said, “Save the Children need to raise at least £2 million to help these children and their families whose lives have been turned upside down by flooding.”

He praised the generosity of past appeals, seeking support for more than 10 times the number of children who live in Scotland.

“Anyone can help by donating goods, money or even their time to help in the shops—even an hour is valuable,” Mr McMillan continued.

“These people urgently need our help. Millions of children have been forced from their homes and the lack of shelter, food and clean water, combined with exposure to the hot and humid weather, puts children in real danger.”

Save the Children workers are already on the ground in all three countries.

The charity has rescued 5000 Bangladeshi families cut off by the floods and is scaling up its response to set up safe places for displaced children.

In India, it has reached around 3000 families in West Bengal and Orissa and is providing temporary shelter, water purification, healthcare, clothes, and school supplies.

In Pakistan, it is helping around 60,000 children who were left homeless by flooding brought by Cyclone Yemyin, which hit in Sindh and Balochistan provinces in July.

Save the Children will be providing 12,000 families with food, shelter, kitchen equipment and soap, helping to rebuild schools and provide items like paper, slates, chalk, and toys.

To offer to help, call 0800 8148148 or visit www.savethechildren.org.uk.