East Africa is facing a drought that is affecting more than 11 million people and is its worst drought in 60 years.

The United Nations has declared a famine in the region for the first time in a generation. Refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia are receiving some 3,000 new refugees every day as families flee from famine-stricken and war-torn areas. The incredibly limited food and water in the Horn of Africa is disappearing rapidly, and families must travel up to a hundred and sixty kilometers, often on foot, to seek food and aid. Many do not survive the trip. Officials warn that 800,000 children could die of malnutrition across the East African nations of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Kenya.

Aid agencies are frustrated by many crippling situations: the slow response of Western governments, local governments and terrorist groups blocking access, terrorist and bandit attacks, and anti-terrorism laws that restrict who the aid groups can deal with -- not to mention the massive scale of the current crisis.

Here are a few images from the past several weeks in East Africa: Famine in East Africa

The Australian Government has announced that all donations made by individuals to the East Africa Drought Appeal 2011, between 5 October and 30 November, would be matched dollar for dollar, so your donation – made now – can go twice as far. If you are interested making a donation, the following organisations are soliciting donations:

Doctors Without Borders is not soliciting for a specific appeal, but is working to respond to the crisis.