A £5 MILLION appeal has been launched by Oxfam to sustain its life saving work in Darfur and Chad. And helping to raise money for the appeal is manager for both Tavistock and Okehampton Oxfam shops, Jacky Theobald. She is appealing for donations to help continue its work in what has become one of the world's greatest humanitarian crises. Mrs Theobald said: 'We are urging people to come to the shop to donate. Oxfam is doing everything it can for the people affected in both countries, but we need the generous support of the British public to continue this work. 'We want to thank the people of Tavistock and Okehampton for their generosity during the previous appeals, particularly the Asian Tsunami. 'Sadly, there has been a lack of media attention to the situation in Darfur and Chad, which is now becoming critical. 'We are hoping that the public in West Devon will show the same generosity demonstrated during previous appeals, so that Oxfam can help those in South Sudan who so desperately need our assistance.' Oxfam has received reports from its programme staff in Darfur that malnutrition rates are close to emergency levels and Chad is struggling to support the number of people who have been made homeless by the conflict. Oxfam's work in Darfur and Chad is its biggest programme anywhere in the world. Oxfam is providing aid to 470,000 people in Darfur and 60,000 in Chad — including clean water, safe sanitation, the promotion of public health, and helping people to earn a living. Oxfam's international director, Penny Lawrence, has recently returned from Darfur. She said: 'This is the greatest concentration of human suffering in the world – some four million people are living on the brink of survival. 'In Darfur, villages are burnt out shells and two out of three of the population are dependent on aid. In Chad the number of people forced to flee their homes has doubled in just four months.' If anyone would like to make a donation, they should visit either Okehampton's Oxfam shop on Fore Street, or Tavistock's Oxfam shops on Market Street and North Street.