Chart-topping singer-songwriter, Sandi Thom, helped launched Oxfam's £15 million World Food Crisis Appeal. Oxfam needs an extra £15million to pay for its international development and humanitarian work on food and agriculture, and to campaign for changes to the flawed trade and agricultural polices that have left poor farmers vulnerable.

Sandi has just returned from a week long visit with Oxfam to southern Malawi, where she met some of the families and communities who are already facing hunger as food prices soar in countries around the world, and learned about how Oxfam is helping those communities.

Sandi has backed Oxfam's urgent call of donations to respond to the crisis and support families struggling to feed themselves.

You can make a donation online at www.oxfam.org.uk by phone to 0300 200 1242 or at any Oxfam shop.

Commenting Sandi Thom, said "My visit to Malawi opened my eyes to the extent of poverty and the harsh reality of how some people live and how rising food prices are affecting them.

"You have to ask yourself what you would do if you were in the situation many Malawians face. If you had a family to feed but the prices were doubling or tripling. The people I met in Malawi, and many millions like them around the world, need people here to show generosity when they need it most.

"I urge and plead the public to make a donation. People shouldn't even consider not giving! I've now had the chance to see the harsh reality of how some people are being affected by rising food prices and its everyone's responsibility to help in time of need.

Oxfam Scotland's Malcolm Fleming, who accompanied Sandi Thom to Malawi said "The World Food Crisis is hitting the poorest hardest. Women and children are especially vulnerable. Many of the people we met in Malawi were already down to one meal a day, and its expected things will get worse in the months ahead, with food prices possibly rising further still.

"There are many factors behind the crisis, but it is clear from talking to subsistence farmers in Malawi, that climate change has affected their ability to get a decent harvest. Many spoke about erratic rains, and unpredictable seasons.

"However whatever the reasons behind the crisis, its clear that financial donations made now, will help save lives in Malawi and elsewhere around the world in the next few crucial months. I urge everyone to make a donation today."