Trucks carrying £175,000 in aid for the Congo left Oxfam’s Bicester warehouse yesterday.

Ian Bastable, the charity’s senior public health engineer, oversaw the loading of 25,000 tons of water and sanitation equipment, plus plastic sheeting, on their way to help refugees affected by civil war in the troubled east of the country.

The supplies were taken from the Arkwright Road depot to Amsterdam, where they will be flown to Africa.

Oxfam spokesman Ian Bray said: “This aid should help about 30,000 and is essential so that they have safe and clean water, and sanitation.”

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