As health professionals from both the UK, and from all over the world, we urge the UK government, as the country leading this year's international 'Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Crisis Compact' agreement, and as the country with the presidency of the G7 group of nations, not to dramatically cut it's funding for nutrition, including to countries on the brink of famine.

The UK has previously played a leading role, along with others, in tackling malnutrition. We are therefore alarmed that while the need has escalated to the highest level for decades, the UK is making huge cuts to international aid, including drastic reductions to its work on malnutrition, even for countries at risk of famine.

It is well recognised that many children die due to malnutrition well before the declaration of famine, and cuts to humanitarian aid to the most fragile settings at this time have already been described by the United Nations as a "death sentence". Tens, or even hundreds of thousands of children could die as a result.

Childhood hunger and malnourishment is an issue which should be beyond politics. Few would disagree that during a global crisis one of the most basic responsibilities of those with the most resources is to prevent children suffering from the consequences of malnutrition and ensure no child dies from hunger.

We call on the UK Government to take this historic opportunity to set an example, maintain its aid commitments including investments in nutrition, and demonstrate that their leadership on famine prevention is truly meaningful.

International Child Health Group  -  A Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health