THE parish pf Sneem reacted swiftly to an RTE programme about starvation in Cambodia by launching a fund to help the people of that country.

Within a few hours of the launch £220 had been collected through the schools in Sneem and Tahilla.

Said Mr. Batt Burns, Principal of Sneem National School: "The programme had such an effect on the people of the village that some of them rang me to suggest we might do something.

"We circularised parents and the immediate response has been most enthusiastic. We now feel that if other towns and villages in Kerry and the rest of the country do likewise we might be able to save some of the million people expected to die there by Christmas."

Mr. Burns added that they were making enquiries about getting the money direct to the people.

"We want to bypass the red tape so that the money can be put to immediate and urgent use," he said.

The Government this week announced that it was giving £50,000 in aid to Cambodia and Trocaire announced a gift of £20,000.

Mr. Burns expects the Sneem contribution to run to several hundred pounds.