Oxford residents are being urged to help refugees from floods in the city's central American twin town.

The government of Nicaragua has declared a state of emergency after heavy rain damaged primitive sanitation systems and displaced thousands of people on the country's coast, near Oxford's twin town Leon.

Already beans, sugar, rice, flour, cooking oil and milk have been delivered to 20 families in Abangasca - a community which was already poor - which was inundated by floodwater.

The torrential rain started on October 10 and continued for five days, affecting thousands of people, with 2,119 evacuated to temporary housing.

Villages were cut off from main roads with minimal food and water supplies, while the floodwater contaminated wells.

Martin Rogers, of the Nicaragua Education Culture and Arts Trust (Necat), which runs an after-school project with Oxford's Leon Link, said: "There are children with fungal infections in their feet and with breathing difficulties."

Some 50 people were admitted to hospital in Leon suffering from leptospirosis - a waterborne disease spread through animal urine, which has killed nine people and made more than 1,600 ill in the country.

The disease is usually contracted through cuts. It is spread because the urine of rats, cows and pigs ends up in pools of standing water during stormy weather.

Mr Rogers added there was no leptospirosis in Abangasca yet.

He said: "The water level has gone down, because a week ago it was up to waist level.

"With the assistance from Oxford and Necat we were able to help 20 families with the help of the community leaders.

"Our helper, Gioconda Arostegui, plans to take out another set of supplies for 20 families, with further help from Oxford. There are still 44 families in Abangasca who have yet to receive any help.

"If anyone wants to help financially, please contact me."

Leon factfile

Leon, Nicaragua's former capital and second largest city, has been twinned with Oxford since 1986, and has an ancient cathedral and the oldest university in Central America.

Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, subject to volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, droughts and tsunami.

The Leon Link has about 30 active members, who raise money for health and education projects, as well as responding to natural disasters.

Cheney School is twinned with John F Kennedy School in Leon, and several Oxford churches fund projects there.

After Hurricane Mitch in 1999, Oxford raised £10,000 to dig wells for refugees.