In the burnt out shell of the school candles stand in memory

The British Red Cross has launched an appeal to help the long-term recovery of the devastated Russian town.

It has shifted focus from the ongoing medical emergency to the rehabilitation and care of survivors.

The tragedy continues to unfold for those survivors and relatives, many of whom are still searching for their loved ones in the rubble of the school.

Beslan appeal

Tons of medical and emergency aid has already been flown in to help the Russian Red Cross, which has appealed for international assistance to help overstretched local hospitals.

Medical staff in the three hospitals in Beslan and the regional capital, Vladikavkaz, are trying to treat the injured - with 330 out of 426 patients children, according to the authorities.

Meanwhile, the British Red Cross has opened an appeal - the Beslan Crisis Appeal - to support activities with survivors, their families and bereaved relatives.

The appeal is now focusing on the long term medical and psychological needs of the survivors Will Slater British Red Cross

A spokesman for the British Red Cross, Will Slater, said: "We are an international organisation so we are providing support to the Russian Red Cross who have some experience of providing psychological support.

"Following the bloody end of the siege we sent medical aid to deal with the level of injuries, suture kits, bandages and bed linen - whatever was needed.

"But the appeal is now focusing on the long-term medical and psychological needs of the survivors," he said.

He explained the money raised by the British Red Cross would go towards helping with home care and nursing support for those children and adults who will have life-long injuries and mental scars.

"Psychological support will be provided as many of the children and adults will be suffering from, at the very least, some sort of post traumatic stress," he said.

"The support will be to try and help them come to terms with what happened.

"This will be handled by the Russian Red Cross but they will need the funds to do it."

Children's charity

The United Nations' children's charity, Unicef, has also played a significant role in the aftermath of the Beslan tragedy.

The Russian branch of the international charity has been involved from the start and the UK office is on stand-by to send assistance.

A spokeswoman for Unicef UK, Kathryn Irwin, said: "We're standing by for requests from the Russian authorities to provide support for education and the long-term needs of the children."

She explained Unicef provided what it called "psycho-social support" which involved training teachers and members of the community so that they cater for the continuing needs of traumatised children.

With a wealth of experience dealing with children in conflict situations around the globe, Unicef can play a vital role in Beslan.

"The methods used include art therapy and encouraging the children to identify the experience they've been through," she said.

To the same end, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has appealed for 563,000 euros (nearly �384,000) to cover medical and psychological assistance for around 2,000 people in Beslan over the next year.

A spokesman for UNICEF said most of the symptoms of heavy psychological trauma were likely to emerge in about 10 days to two weeks and children would need to be followed up for years after the event.

To make a donation to the Beslan Crisis Appeal phone 0870 169 9191 or go online at www.redcross.org.uk/beslanappeal.

You can send cheques, made payable to British Red Cross Beslan Crisis Appeal, to: Beslan Crisis Appeal - Internet, The British Red Cross, FREEPOST, London SW1X 7BR. Alternatively, you can visit you local Red Cross shop