(CNN) -- Twelve million people are facing a hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, and they are in desperate need of help. The United Nations declared a famine in parts of southern Somalia, calling for a widespread international response to end the suffering. Thousands of Somalis have been fleeing the country each week in search of food, water and shelter -- many of them walking for days in the sweltering sun toward refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. Nearly half a million children are at risk of dying from malnutrition and disease. Relief organizations are calling on the international community to join together to end the crisis, and they're working to gain entrance into areas with limited humanitarian access.
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Twelve million people are facing a hunger crisis in East Africa
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The United Nations warns that the crisis could spread
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Relief organizations are calling on the international community to join together to end the crisis
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If you want to help, donations can be as simple as sending a text
In overcrowded camps in @placeholder, the group has helped establish reception centers for newcomers to receive food, health screenings and medical referrals.