The world needs to wake up to the famine which is spreading across East Africa, says West Midlands UKIP MEP James Carver.

He was speaking today as aid agencies launched a joint appeal to raise money for millions of people facing starvation across the region.

Mr Carver, UKIP’s Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs spokesman, said: “The UN recently announced the world is facing the largest humanitarian crisis since 1945.

“We must support the appeal launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee.”

He also urged Euro MPs to support the region, which has been devastated by long-term drought.

Mr Carver told the European Parliament: “I have just returned from London following an earlier meeting with the Somaliland ambassador to the UK who highlighted the tragedy that is emerging not just across the Horn of Africa but right the way down to Kenya through to Angola.

“Over two million animals have died, people are losing their lives and I would urge colleagues from across the groups in this parliament to do what they can to highlight this tragedy which is growing across the Horn of Africa and to do all they can to support them.”