Wishlist could be set up in Oxfordshire to support refugees from Afghanistan

The authority has thanked residents for their generosity.

People in Oxfordshire may soon be able to donate very specific items to support refugees from Afghanistan via an Amazon wishlist.

The County Council says it has been inundated with donations and thanked the people of Oxfordshire for their generosity so far.

Currently, the authority does not need further donations, but this may change in the future when very specific items may be needed.

Those wanting to donate items can still donate to a number of national appeals, including the British Red Cross and Asylum Welcome.

In recent weeks donations have flooded in from across the Meridian region.

Councillor Liz Leffman, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said:

"As we've said before the people of Oxfordshire have been incredibly generous in their response and many of the items they donated during August have been put to good use with the people who have arrived in our county.

"We are now at a stage where we don't need further donations of items. However there may be occasions in future when we need very specific items to meet specific needs as families go through the very gradual process of adapting to their new surroundings away from their home country. We thought an Amazon wishlist would be an ideal way to get a message through to our kind-hearted residents if and when we need specific items quickly.

"As we've said before we are very limited in the extent to which we can give a commentary on the process we are going through with the refugees because we don't want to reveal the locations at which they are being homed. They have been through a traumatic experience and they are now in an entirely new country. They will need to adjust and we need to give them the time, space and peace to do so.

"As councils we have the same safeguarding responsibilities to these new residents that we have to people who are in the care of our adult and children's social care teams. However in delivering that care to the refugees there may be moments when the wider public can provide real assistance - and that's where the wishlist will come in very useful."