Australians are a generous lot, often donating considerable amounts to charities and worthy causes without being prompted to do so.

So why are we asking you to donate now? We feel that this famine, and its consequences for millions of people, has not received the sort of international support that it requires. Many sources say anywhere between 11 and 13 million people are currently affected by this famine. It’s time to step up our efforts to help end their suffering.

Here are 11 reasons to donate:

1. It is incomprehensible that there is enough food on this planet for everyone to eat three meals a day, yet millions of people are starving to death. We can actually change that situation. We can save those millions of lives.
2. UNICEF estimates that 250 children are dying every day from starvation and malnutrition. That’s one child every 6 minutes.
3. Half of the entire Somali population need food urgently. That’s 3.2 million people. Or the entire populations of Brisbane and Adelaide.
4. An estimated 29,000 people have already died from a lack of food. This number is actually very conservative given the number of people on the move. One thing we do know – the death toll grows every day.
5. A further $1 billion is required right now to help deliver urgent food, medicine and supplies to the people of East Africa.
6. Most western governments have already pledged or dispersed their aid contributions. Many are failing to act at all.
7. The shortage of food is killing many. But soon, disease will kill many more. So many malnourished people, many of them children, with depleted immune systems will not be able to survive the onset of cholera, typhoid, malaria, measels and other diseases.
8. Somalis are even more reliant on international support today given the lack of a central government and many corrupt and violent warlords running parts of the country. They cannot rely on themselves.
9. Rains are expected to arrive in October, offsetting the affects of the drought, but meteorologists believe there’s a 50% chance the La Nina weather pattern that caused the famine will return. Which means no foreseeable end to this current drought.
10. The Elevenses has selected the most effective and efficient Australian charity organisations who are best equipped to deliver aid directly to those in need. Whilst we have no say in how they use the donations they receive, we require transparency from these organisations in terms of where and how these funds are spent.
11. The Elevenses does not take a cent from any funds raised. In fact, this whole project has been self-funded and all people involved have contributed their time and skills without payment. And happily so!