A television appeal to help prevent the humanitarian crisis faced by famine-hit Africa has helped raise �3m.

Fourteen million people - half of them children - face starvation in Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho - as a result of drought, flooding and political instability.

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UK-based charities backing the international aid appeal have received around 30,000 calls pledging money for food and medical supplies since the appeal launch on Thursday.

Aid agencies say this is the worst food crisis in the region for a decade.

The international charity appeal was launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to provide food, medical and agricultural assistance.

DEC unites 13 leading British aid agencies such as the British Red Cross, Oxfam, Save the Children, CAFOD and Christian Aid to co-ordinate and maximise income from the public at times of major disaster overseas.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said Britain will do all it can to avert a "catastrophic" famine in southern Africa.

He said the government was making aid available and was working with other aid and development organisations to "get as much aid to the area as possible".

	:	Southern Africa famine
In pictures: Southern Africa famine

The World Food Programme originally launched an appeal at the beginning of July to raise $500m for the southern African countries but has only received 22% of the funding they need from foreign governments.

Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States have also responded to the WFP call.

The Church of the Latter Day Saints, also known as the Mormons, has donated $1m.

Brendan Gormley, chief executive of the DEC, praised the fact that �3m had been raised so far but he said that "we have a marathon ahead of us".