Again I have watched the national news from the comfort of my home and again my heart goes out to the individuals and family who are enduring this torture that mother nature has no plans in ending.

I couldn’t begin to imagine having every comfort we all take for granted being taken away and not knowing when some means of normality will return.

I apologise if I have missed any newspaper or media announcement, but I am sure that there has been no appeal to help our own country men and women. How come, when there is a disaster in other parts of the world (which also is dreadful)? We’re one of the first countries in the western world to donate and when something happens on this scale, nothing.

For goodness’ sake, we need to start donating clothes and so on. I’m sure every household has items which they could pass on to people who seem to have lost everything. The same goes to our major food retailers – they must be able to help.

We need to look after our own country at times like this, instead of letting money go to other areas.

If any reader is aware of any group that has started an appeal to help out, I would be interested in getting their details.

Let’s hope that misery for so many will end soon.

STEVEN SHIELDS Headley Way Headington