Anglia region supports millions at risk of famine and starvation in East Africa

Charities in the region are helping to co-ordinate the famine relief effort in Africa and Yemen which the UN has called the biggest humanitarian crisis in its history.

The World Vision charity, which is based in Milton Keynes, has been supporting the hunger crisis across East Africa.

Millions are in urgent need of food, water and medical treatment - children are particularly at risk.

World Vision director Perry Mansfield says the situation has become "quite dire" throughout the region of East Africa.

The crisis across East Africa has left more than 22 million people in need of life-saving help.

More than 3.5 million children are suffering from severe malnutrition.

Famine has already been declared in South Sudan with 100,000 people already facing starvation and a million more at grave risk.

The UN says this is one of the worst crisis of its kind since 1945 Credit: PA

One of the worst hit countries is Somalia.

Somaliland is an autonomous region where it's not rained for three years and where millions are now at risk of starvation.

Surer Mohamed and Elhan Ali from the Somali Society Committee in Cambridge say more help is needed there.

Church groups and voluntary organisations across the region are fundraising for money to be spent on the famine relief operation.

Aid workers say they're doing everything they can to tackle malnutrition on a massive scale.

But without more money the simple truth is that for many of those you're seeing now have little chance of survival.

Charities - in the UK - have been sending urgent aid to help the millions of people facing hunger in South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia Credit: PA

Here is how you can support the famine crisis:

  • You make a donation to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk, call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 610, donate over the counter at any major high street bank or post office, or send a cheque.

  • You can also donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.

  • You must be 16 years or over. Standard network charges apply for calls. Texts are free to send and your £5 donation will be added to your bill, To opt out of future marketing text STOP.

  • To send a donation through the post download the DEC's postal donation form.

All donations can be made payable to DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal and sent to: DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA

A doctor feeds a malnourished child in Nigeria Credit: PA

  • Tonight: Famine - "Millions on the brink" will be on ITV at 7.30pm