Australia’s leading aid and development organisations have formed a major coalition to urge the Albanese Government to help stop an unfolding global humanitarian catastrophe.

Help Fight Famine is an alliance of groups calling for Australia to do its part with 50 million people on the brink of famine.

Today HFF is launching a budget submission paper which outlines the practical steps Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers should take when the new 2022/23 budget is delivered on October 25.

The report’s key recommendations call for the government to:

* Deliver an urgent $150 million Famine Prevention Package to stop a catastrophe in the worst-affected hunger hotspots in the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen
* Invest long-term in a targeted Global Food Security Strategy
* Include measures to strengthen resilience of the Asia Pacific region to climate change, disasters, and economic shocks by increasing Australia’s development assistance

The discussion paper outlines the perfect storm caused by conflict, COVID and climate change which needs immediate action to save millions of lives.

It demonstrates how the war in Ukraine has sent food prices skyrocketing around the world with children especially hard hit.

Without urgent action, the deepening hunger crisis will kill more people annually than the entireCOVID-19 pandemic.

Help Fight Famine spokesperson and Micah executive director Tim Costello said the AustralianGovernment was facing a crucial test.

“This is not the same old world hunger story you’ve heard before. COVID-19 doubled the number of people living with life-threatening hunger. Between climate change and soaring global food prices, the worst may be yet to come,” he said.

“Anthony Albanese faces his first humanitarian test as Prime Minister after declaring international aid for developing countries was both the right thing to do and in Australia’s national interest.

“Will the government back up this statement with concrete action to stop human catastrophe around the world?

Help Fight Famine spokesperson and Plan International Australia chief executive officer Susanne Legena said Australia needed to provide urgent assistance for non-government organisations and humanitarian agencies to address the crisis.

“Australia can help save millions of lives from starvation if we act now,” she said.

“The federal budget will be a critical juncture as the impact of war, a pandemic and climate change puts a staggering amount of people on the brink of death.

“The war in Ukraine has sent shockwaves through the global food system. Help Fight Famine is urgently calling for $150 million with the prospect of a generation being destroyed as children are the first and hardest hit.”

Help Fight Famine spokesperson and Afghan-born Australian lawyer Mariam Veiszadeh said the situation was dire.

“Almost 10 million children are going hungry every day in Afghanistan - but it’s not too late to stop this awful humanitarian crisis,” she said.

“Afghanistan is just one of 45 countries where 49 million people are on the verge of famine. This hidden catastrophe needs urgent attention.

“The Australian rescue mission did not end when the final RAAF plane left Kabul. There are millions of people counting on life-saving support.”

A Caritas Australia-commissioned survey of 1011 Australians found more than two thirds (70 percent) believe the global community should do more to support the poor.

Almost all (98 per cent) Australians are aware of the war in Ukraine, yet only 56 per cent are aware of the impact it is having on the food crisis in the Horn of Africa. Just 45 per cent know about the conflict in Yemen.

Four in 10 Australians are optimistic the Albanese government will do more with the nation’s foreign aid budget. Some 29 per cent believe the government needs to do more to help with the food crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Help Fight Famine spokesperson and Caritas Australia CEO Kirsty Robertson has just returned from Ethiopia where she saw communities on the brink of starvation.

“I spoke at length with one woman called Mali, who has lost all of her crops, only has two livestock left, and is now forced to walk 18 hours to get water for her family, having to leave her children behind in the village while she travels,” she said.

“The water is filthy – but it is the only option. These horrifying conditions are some of the worst I have seen in over 20 years in this sector.

“There is no question - we must do more to stave off the impending humanitarian crisis before more lives are lost.”

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Contact: Matt Coughlan 0400 561 480

‍Quotes from agencies endorsing the Help Fight Famine campaign:

Save the Children CEO Mat Tinkler:

“Tens of thousands of children could starve to death while many more will suffer irreversible, life-long damage due to malnutrition. The reality is as simple and sobering as that "Time is running out. Australia has an opportunity to help avert this unfolding catastrophe, but the government must act immediately. The global community was too slow to respond to the 2011 famine in Somalia and as a result up to 260,000 people died, half of them children. We cannot repeat the same mistake.”

‍Australian Council for International Development CEO Marc Purcell:

“An immediate injection of funds is needed now, but what we really want to see is a comprehensive, long-term strategy that will help address the ongoing needs of people in affected regions. We call on the Albanese Government to take part in a coordinated multilateral push to help ensure that famine-affected countries are safe and stable.”

ActionAid Executive Director Michelle Higelin:

“The food crisis in the Horn of Africa, Yemen, and Afghanistan is having a devastating impact ongender equality. Women are forced to travel longer distances to feed themselves and their families due to drought and are also facing increased risk of gender-based violence and exploitation. Australia must step up to avert the risk of famine and setbacks to women's rights.”

CBM Australia CEO Jane Edge:

“This global food crisis demands an urgent response. It threatens to eclipse the COVID pandemic and it will be particularly catastrophic for people with disabilities, who already live with higher rates of poverty and the impacts of climate change. Tens of millions of people do not need to face starvation if the Australian Government acts to provide immediate relief, leads the way with increased development assistance and includes people with disabilities in any action.”

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