Volunteers at the Oxfam shop in Ilkley are marching to spell out their love for Syria and call for peace for the war-torn country.

People are encouraged to call in to the Oxfam shop on The Grove and donate what they can for the life-saving work the charity is delivering on the ground for Syrians fleeing the conflict.

Ilkley’s Oxfam shop manager Paul Felgate said: “Now more than ever we really need Ilkley's support – we are coping with one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the world – so we decided to spell out some love for Syria.”

Paul, who has been managing the shop for five years, and lives in Pool-in-Wharfedale, said: “We are working round the clock to provide clean water and sanitation to over 250,000 men, women and children who had to flee their homes in Syria to find refuge in camps in neighbouring Lebanon and Jordan. This is one of the worst refugees’ emergencies since Rwanda.”

According to Oxfam more than 1.6 million refugees have now fled violence in Syria and are in desperate need of shelter, food and water. The organisation claims that more than 3,000 are crossing the border between Syria and Jordan every day and for most of them their only possession is the clothes they are wearing. Oxfam is aiming to reach 650,000 people before the end of the year with their relief work.

David Hewitt, Yorkshire Oxfam community fundraiser, said: “Ordinary Syrian men, women and young children who had to leave everything behind, need our help; they need tents, food, toilets and clean water.

“Children need to start their schooling as soon as possible and their families need to be safe. That's why we are asking the people of Ilkley to donate to the Oxfam Syria Appeal, joining our campaign demanding peace and help in every way they can.”

As well as donating through the Oxfam shop on The Grove, people are also encouraged to join Oxfam demanding a date to be set for the urgent peace talks world leaders have promised without further delay.

Paul added: “We need to make sure that the next generation is not tarnished by the violence of this conflict. Syria needs peace as soon as possible – we must remind world leaders to take action and keep the promises made during the recent G8 Summit for a peace conference for Syria.”

For more information on how to help Oxfam’s Syria appeal in Ilkley, contact Paul on (01943) 602524.