The UK is today announcing emergency funding to help feed millions of people across Niger and Chad who face severe food shortages.
International Development Minister Gareth Thomas has called on other donors to respond to the growing crisis immediately in order to prevent a major humanitarian emergency occurring in the region.
Around five million people across Niger and Chad are facing severe food shortages. The UK's support will go directly through charities and UN aid agencies on the ground to support emergency activities for food and treatment of acutely malnourished children.
DFID will also help the thousands of small farmers protect their livelihoods by providing seeds to grow crops, and food to help keep farm animals alive.
Poor rainfall and limited pasture availability has led to a second year of bad harvests in parts of the Sahel region, which is one of the poorest regions in the world.
Niger lies at the bottom of the United Nations Development Index, and even in a good year millions remain at risk of not having enough to eat.
International Development Minister Gareth Thomas said: "The hunger season has started three months early, and experts are warning that the figure of five million facing food shortages will rise.
"Donors need to act now if we are to avoid a major humanitarian crisis in Niger and Chad.
"DFID has been working to help address the root causes of the food shortage by helping the poorest of the poor over the longer-term , and we have been tackling some of the underlying causes of child malnutrition. However, in the short-term, millions of people need our help now."
The same area was hit by severe food shortages in 2005, and aid agencies say that unless there is urgent action, the situation could become as serious again.
Notes to editors:
The total amount pledged by donors including the EU, France, Spain, the US and others comes to an estimated =A350m for Niger and around =A315m for West and Central Chad.
Niger ranks 182 out of 182 in the UNDP's Human Development Index. Chad ranks 175.
Support to NGO agencies across West Africa will be delivered through the West Africa Humanitarian Response Fund (WAHRF), a newly created regional funding mechanism aimed at responding to rapid onset emergencies and acute humanitarian crises.
WAHRF NGO partners are Action Against Hunger, Care International/Merlin, Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam GB and Save the Children.