A CRIPPLING combination of natural and man-made crises across southern Africa is driving more than six million children towards starvation in the coming months.

In total, 12.8m people across Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia are threatened with famine - a population more than twice the size of the whole of the West Midlands region.

For once, time is still on our side and we must act before a disaster of biblical magnitude hits our screens and papers as it did in 1984 in Ethiopia.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is therefore calling on Evening News readers to act now and play a part in preventing a great tragedy.

"We cannot overstate what is at stake here," said Anita Tiessen, deputy executive Director of UNICEF UK.

"Of the 12.8m people at risk of death, more than half are children. Without major and immediate funding, we just won't get the job done. These children need our help, and they need it now."

In all six countries, it is much more than just a food crisis.

"While the primary focus is the need for food, we must also address the need for medicine, water, and better sanitation," Ms Tiessen added.

"And we must respond in a way that accounts for the huge impact HIV/AIDS is having on these communities."

Over the coming days, the Evening News will take an in-depth look at each of these crises and hear the human side of them.

UNICEF has already responded to the situation, providing supplementary feeding to the most vulnerable mothers and children, carrying out measles campaigns, drilling boreholes, providing jerrycans and working to help children orphaned by HIV/Aids.

The Evening News partner appeal with UNICEF covers the needs of the six worst effected countries: Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

All funds raised will help to continue UNICEF's work.

But with the situation deteriorating fast, UNICEF urgently needs more funding to step up its on-going work in all six effected countries to expand relief and reach all vulnerable children with the vital help they need.

"People are dying," said Ms Thiessen.

"This is a test for us. The world cannot turn its back now."