Many Americans aren’t aware that more than four times as many people are currently in crisis in the Horn of Africa than were affected by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and that a child dies in Somalia every six minutes. You can help. You can do more than just donate, you can save lives.

I’m joining USAID and the Ad Council to spread the word and support the FWD campaign to provide food, water and shelter to the hundreds of thousands of starving and sick populations in the refugee camps in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, where families fight every day to survive.

Here is an image of one of on such survivor, fighting for the lives of her children on a daily basis. Alima Ali Abdi, 37, holds one of her three children as she waits in line to be received at the Ifo refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya on August 20, 2011. “The journey here was very difficult,” said Alima. Her family walked 16 days on foot from Somalia, and “it was hard on the children.” They were pastoralists in Somalia, with a herd of almost 50 cows and 30 goats. When asked if any of them were left, she said, “They were all washed away by the drought.”

The FWD campaign represents not only the issues of Famine, War and Drought that people in these countries face every day, but also the solution: Forward this message to your friends, your families, your co-workers.

The campaign makes it easy. Go online and use the tools available at www.usaid.gov/fwd where there are resources to help make a real impact in the Horn. Infographics, a campaign toolkit and messaging that can be posted on Facebook, tweeted or posted on your web page can all be shared with just a click of your mouse or a text message. Visit www.usaid.gov/fwd or text GIVE to 777444 to donate $10 to support famine and drought relief in the Horn of Africa.

A crisis that affects more than 13 million is too big to be ignored. It may seem impossible to believe that one person can make a difference, but you can be a vehicle for change by sharing this message. Our goal for today is to have one share for every person currently being affected in the Horn of Africa (a total of 13 million shares). Tweet, post and talk to your friends and family to help spread the word.

Do what I’m doing. Tell everyone. Tell anyone. Do more than donate. Forward the facts.