LETTER: Famine crisis '“ urgent appeal

The British Red Cross is appealing to the public to help millions facing extreme hunger. More than 20 million people living in East Africa and Yemen urgently need help, with the UN saying the world faces the greatest humanitarian crisis since 1945.

Famine has already been declared in South Sudan, while millions more face the threat of famine across the region. Complex factors including conflict and continuous drought have combined to create conditions where millions of people are not getting enough to eat.

Last week we launched the Red Cross East Africa Crisis Appeal and the public can also donate to our Yemen Crisis Appeal.

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Areas of South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Yemen are all affected.

This is a shocking situation with millions of people facing desperate hunger. The crisis is expected to worsen significantly over the coming weeks and months. We urgently need more funds to reach people.

On the ground we’re seeing mothers who cannot feed their babies, children who are too hungry to go to school, and elderly people walking for hours a day to find water. Because of severe food and water shortages crops are failing and livestock are dying in huge numbers, and coupled with increasing food prices, people simply aren’t able to get enough to eat.

To support the British Red Cross East Africa Crisis Appeal visit www.redcross.org.uk/eastafrica or call 0300 023 0817.

To support the British Red Cross Yemen Crisis Appeal visit www.redcross.org.uk/Yemen or call 0300 023 0816.

MIKE ADAMSON

Chief Executive at the British Red Cross

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