Former President and UN High Commissioner Mary Robinson has begun a three-day visit to the drought and famine-hit areas of east Africa.
Ms Robinson has described the situation there as 'very serious' and says the international community will have to take more decisive and extensive action to save lives.
The worst drought and food shortages Africa has seen in 20 years is affecting 12m people living in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled from villages that have seen almost no rain for two years.
Crops have failed and up to 100 people a day are dying, according to UN figures.
Ms Robinson will visit some of the worst hit areas in northern Kenya at the invitation of Concern, Trócaire, Oxfam Ireland and the Save the Children Fund.
The aid agencies are about to launch a new initiative to help victims of the crisis.
Chairman of Oxfam Ireland Jim Clarken said the situation was so serious that huge numbers of people are in danger of starving to death unless a greater international response is mobilised.
