Top film star Rhys Ifans has given his support to the Make Poverty History campaign.

“After the tsunami, the people of the UK showed their willingness to respond quickly and generously to people in need thousands of miles away,” he said. “People donated at an unprecedented rate, which shows our willingness to help others in desperate need. Nothing should detract from the enormity of the suffering in Asia but, as Kofi Annan warned, we mustn’t rob Peter to pay Paul.

“Elsewhere there are hundreds of thousands of survivors of brutal conflict in the camps of Darfur and Chad; brutalised child soldiers hoping for a new life in Liberia; 350,000 people trying to put their lives back together after devastating floods in Guyana and millions across Africa affected by HIV/AIDS.”

Do Something

“As individuals facing this human devastation, we can feel so helpless, but we are privileged to be in a position to do something - every single one of us. The effects of the tsunami were intensified by one major problem. Poverty. 98 per cent of all those killed or affected by natural disasters are from developing countries. Images from the tsunami show how desperately poor many of the hardest-hit communities are.

“This year we must acknowledge the poverty and suffering affecting people around the world. We must also do something about it. This year world leaders need to apply themselves to doubling global aid, as well as giving debt relief and reforming trade rules.”

Make Poverty History

“This year they must take steps to Make Poverty History and we must make sure they do what they promise. I believe we can do it. Many of the organisations working to save lives in the tsunami-affected countries, along with over 200 other organisations in the UK, are part of Make Poverty History. Each of us can back this campaign, to channel the anger and frustration we feel about the injustices in our world, by visiting www.makepovertyhistory.org.

“Join me in wearing a white band, making sure Tony Blair meets his promises and by going to the G8 rally in Edinburgh on 2 July.”