Children orphaned by AIDS face an even greater struggle to survive in famine-threatened southern Africa.

Vulnerable youngsters are having to stretch already scant resources to provide for hungry siblings following the death of both parents from the disease.

And as the Telegraph & Argus teams up with UNICEF to raise money to avert the food shortage, shocking statistics reveal HIV/AIDS is affecting one in four people in southern Africa.

The six countries facing a current crisis - Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi - have some of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world. It is killing some of the most productive members of society, including teachers, social service providers, farmers and parents. The associated ill-health reduces people's capacity to work on their land or provide money for food. Louis Coles, fundraising manager for the United Nations Children's Fund in Yorkshire, said the connection between AIDS and hunger is a profound one.

"There is a direct link between food insecurity and HIV/AIDS and it's the children that are the most vulnerable and most at risk of dying in the current crisis. To ensure their survival, we need to respond with more than food aid but also to build up communities' capacity to support children affected by HIV/AIDS."

Telegraph & Argus readers are being urged by UNICEF to act now and donate money to help save the lives of six million children who are facing starvation.

In Swaziland, where the estimated number of 15 to 49 year olds with HIV is 33.4 per cent, approximately ten per cent of households are headed by children.

All funds raised by people in Bradford will help to continue its work mitigating the role of HIV/AIDS in the crisis.