THEY are being sent from Southampton with love.

Vital supplies have left the city bound for war-torn Syria.

A 44ft shipping container is making its way to the Middle East state loaded with 40,000 nappies, 20 pallets of winter clothing, 5,000 tins of food, 1,000 tubs of baby milk and one ton of rice.

One thousand shoe boxes have also been filled with school supplies and toys from children around Hampshire.

The Solent for Syria appeal was launched just eight weeks ago by non profit making organisation Fairways Foundation to gather aid and deliver it directly to families in refugee camps.

Workers at the organisation, which provides services to children and young people, have been overwhelmed with donations coming not only from local people but from as far afield as the United States.

Volunteer Nicky Lovell, a volunteer, has been sorting some of the contributions at the base in Mount Pleasant Road.

She said, “I’m doing it for the babies. When you hear that they’re being fed on sugar water you can’t not help.

“I think it’s a case of out of sight out of mind. If it was happening here people would do something.

“You’ve got IS bombing, the French bombing, the US bombing and Syria bombing. Lots of people have fled but there are still people there who need help. This is the best thing we can do.”

When the container arrives at the Syrian border it will be received by workers from Rays of Hope Ltd, a charity run by Syrian national Anas Al-Korj.

Anas has lived in Southampton for 16 years and is Imam and director of Taqwah Mosque in Northam.

Although his father died from a heart attack after his home in Aleppo was bombed, many of Anas’ family members still live in the city where they run four primary schools for 1,200 children.

He said: “When the children open those boxes the excitement and joy will be unbelievable. They will see that people they have never met care about them and that they haven’t been abandoned. It will strengthen community relations at a grassroots level.

“Politicians will carry on with their business but we are connecting child to child, mum to mum, with the basics that they need for survival.

“We really didn’t expect this response. It’s overwhelming and amazing. We will make sure that the milk is distributed properly to hospitals, clinics, and medical professionals.

“We would especially like to thank Fairways Foundation for the overwhelming energy of their entire workforce.”

Fairways managing director Mac McHugh said: “The container leaving Fairways is not filled with hatred, suspicion, fear or anxiety.

“It is not sent from one religious group or one community. This container represents all of us and our shared humanity."