Joanne Froggatt among signatories calling on Government to take action on Sudan
Froggatt is among 50 high-profile people from TV, film, music and sport who have signed an open letter led by children's charity Plan International UK which calls on the Prime Minister to tackle the crisis in Sudan by maintaining funding commitments after announcing a cut in the foreign aid budget.
The letter, which was also signed by Warfare's Will Poulter, Bridgerton actress Adjoa Andoh and singer-songwriter Cat Burns, will be delivered to 10 Downing Street on Monday alongside a petition signed by more than 8,500 members of the public.
Joanne Froggatt, pictured at the Brit Awards 2024, said 'by talking about Sudan we can save children's lives' (Ian West/PA)
Froggatt said: 'Millions of children have been forced into dangerous, overcrowded camps both within and beyond Sudan. These are not safe places for such young lives.
'Children's lives are now characterised by danger and death as hunger and disease spread while the violence rages on.
'They are suffering in silence. We need to draw attention to this crisis and demand rapid action from the UK Government. By talking about Sudan we can save children's lives.'
Since the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023, Sudan has topped the International Rescue Committee's (IRC) Emergency Watchlist, which analyses countries that are most likely to experience a new or worsening humanitarian crisis, for a second consecutive year.
Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh is among those who have signed the Plan International UK letter (Lucy North/PA)
The IRC has also described it as 'the largest and fastest displacement crisis in the world' and the 'largest humanitarian crisis on record'.
England footballer Lucy Bronze, director Sir Steve McQueen and musician Peter Gabriel have also added their names to the open letter alongside TV cook Delia Smith and boxer Ramla Ali.
The letter reads: 'Following over two years of violent conflict, Sudan is now the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with half of the country's population – a staggering 24.6 million people – already facing high levels of acute food insecurity.
'Time is quickly running out. Violence, starvation and disease are killing more and more children every day. The UK Government must do all it can to help save lives before it is too late.'
Cat Burns said the situation in Sudan is 'devastating' (Ian West/PA)
Burns, who is known for her hit song Go, added: 'What's happening in Sudan is devastating.
'Children are being torn from their homes, going hungry, and living through horrors no one should ever face.
'We can't turn away or stay quiet. The world needs to act before even more lives are lost.'
The letter also urges the Government to increase international pressure and mediation to ensure a ceasefire as well as providing emergency funding and scaling up mutual aid groups.
Will Poulter said families in Sudan cannot be allowed to starve to death (Ian West/PA)
Poulter, who is known for We're The Millers and The Maze Runner, said: 'The stories about the scale of starvation coming out of Sudan are utterly heart-breaking.
'The situation is quickly escalating into one of the worst famines ever recorded.
'With such an extreme shortage of food, immediate action is needed now to save lives and prevent further suffering. We can't let children and their families in Sudan starve to death.'
The letter is supported by a coalition of aid organisations, including the chief executives of Cafod, Save the Children UK, Action Against Hunger, Christian Aid, and leading Sudanese campaigners.
Mohamed Kamal, country director for Plan International Sudan, said: 'The sheer scale of the suffering being endured by people in Sudan is almost impossible to comprehend.
'Two years of brutal fighting, severe restrictions on the delivery of life-saving aid and a near-total collapse of the food supply across the country has caused a humanitarian catastrophe on a scale the world hasn't witnessed in generations.
'With every day that passes, more and more children face the unacceptable risk of death from extreme hunger, war and disease. Turning our backs on them would be utterly inhumane.'
The Government has been approached for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
19 hours ago
- Wales Online
Jonathan Bailey says Wicked sequel is ‘darker' and will ‘go there politically'
Jonathan Bailey says Wicked sequel is 'darker' and will 'go there politically' The Bridgerton star, 37, plays Prince Fiyero in the films, also starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, which are adapted from the musical of the same name LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey attend the photocall for "Wicked: Part One" at the Greenwich Observatory on November 20, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/WireImage) Actor Jonathan Bailey has said the Wicked sequel is "darker" and is "going to go there politically as well". The Bridgerton star, 37, plays Prince Fiyero in the films, also starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, which are adapted from the musical of the same name. "Being slightly off the M1 in Munchkinland, with Ari singing a beautiful mezzo soprano, and then seeing cars pulling up on the hard shoulder trying to record it, and then seeing men in the sky, (which) turned out to be microlights and drones, it was like Independence Day," he told British GQ. He added: "I remember having four hours to learn how to do a dance move. I did it with Ari, headbutted her, and was like, 'Gotta go!'. "I think she might have even headbutted me, but it was a meeting of minds, literally." Wicked's next instalment will arrive in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from November 21 and will cover the years after Elphaba, played by Erivo, parted ways with her friend Glinda (Grande). Article continues below Wicked: For Good will also show Elphaba being demonised by those in Oz, and transformed into The Wicked Witch Of The West. The films have been adapted from the musical, which was based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel – which was in turn inspired by the story first told in L Frank Baum's 1900 children's novel, later adapted into the 1939 film starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. Bailey said: "It's darker, and I've got a sense it's going to go there politically as well. "Fiyero's arc really kicks off and he literally is transformed by the end." Other stars of Wicked include Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and US actor Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard. Both Bailey and Goldblum are part of the Jurassic Park franchise. Goldblum played Dr Ian Malcolm in the original 1993 adventure/sci-fi while Bailey stars as Dr Henry Loomis in Jurassic World: Rebirth, which is yet to be released. "We'll see how it goes, but there might be a few films down the line where me and him can appear in Jurassic together," Bailey said. He added: "Dr Ian Malcolm and Dr Henry Loomis on a night out." Article continues below Bailey stars on the cover of the summer Heroes issue of British GQ and will be speaking at the GQ Heroes conference, taking place at Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire from July 2 to 4. The Heroes Issue of British GQ is available via digital download and on newsstands on June 10.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Leader Live
Jonathan Bailey says Wicked sequel is ‘darker' and will ‘go there politically'
The Bridgerton star, 37, plays Prince Fiyero in the films, also starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, which are adapted from the musical of the same name. 'Being slightly off the M1 in Munchkinland, with Ari singing a beautiful mezzo soprano, and then seeing cars pulling up on the hard shoulder trying to record it, and then seeing men in the sky, (which) turned out to be microlights and drones, it was like Independence Day,' he told British GQ. A post shared by British GQ (@britishgq) He added: 'I remember having four hours to learn how to do a dance move. I did it with Ari, headbutted her, and was like, 'Gotta go!'. 'I think she might have even headbutted me, but it was a meeting of minds, literally.' Wicked's next instalment will arrive in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from November 21 and will cover the years after Elphaba, played by Erivo, parted ways with her friend Glinda (Grande). Wicked: For Good will also show Elphaba being demonised by those in Oz, and transformed into The Wicked Witch Of The West. The films have been adapted from the musical, which was based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel – which was in turn inspired by the story first told in L Frank Baum's 1900 children's novel, later adapted into the 1939 film starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. Bailey said: 'It's darker, and I've got a sense it's going to go there politically as well. 'Fiyero's arc really kicks off and he literally is transformed by the end.' Other stars of Wicked include Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and US actor Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard. A post shared by British GQ (@britishgq) Both Bailey and Goldblum are part of the Jurassic Park franchise. Goldblum played Dr Ian Malcolm in the original 1993 adventure/sci-fi while Bailey stars as Dr Henry Loomis in Jurassic World: Rebirth, which is yet to be released. 'We'll see how it goes, but there might be a few films down the line where me and him can appear in Jurassic together,' Bailey said. He added: 'Dr Ian Malcolm and Dr Henry Loomis on a night out.' Bailey stars on the cover of the summer Heroes issue of British GQ and will be speaking at the GQ Heroes conference, taking place at Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire from July 2 to 4. The Heroes Issue of British GQ is available via digital download and on newsstands on June 10.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Jonathan Bailey says Wicked sequel is ‘darker' and will ‘go there politically'
The Bridgerton star, 37, plays Prince Fiyero in the films, also starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, which are adapted from the musical of the same name. 'Being slightly off the M1 in Munchkinland, with Ari singing a beautiful mezzo soprano, and then seeing cars pulling up on the hard shoulder trying to record it, and then seeing men in the sky, (which) turned out to be microlights and drones, it was like Independence Day,' he told British GQ. He added: 'I remember having four hours to learn how to do a dance move. I did it with Ari, headbutted her, and was like, 'Gotta go!'. 'I think she might have even headbutted me, but it was a meeting of minds, literally.' Wicked's next instalment will arrive in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from November 21 and will cover the years after Elphaba, played by Erivo, parted ways with her friend Glinda (Grande). Wicked: For Good will also show Elphaba being demonised by those in Oz, and transformed into The Wicked Witch Of The West. The films have been adapted from the musical, which was based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel – which was in turn inspired by the story first told in L Frank Baum's 1900 children's novel, later adapted into the 1939 film starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. Bailey said: 'It's darker, and I've got a sense it's going to go there politically as well. 'Fiyero's arc really kicks off and he literally is transformed by the end.' Other stars of Wicked include Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and US actor Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard. Both Bailey and Goldblum are part of the Jurassic Park franchise. Goldblum played Dr Ian Malcolm in the original 1993 adventure/sci-fi while Bailey stars as Dr Henry Loomis in Jurassic World: Rebirth, which is yet to be released. 'We'll see how it goes, but there might be a few films down the line where me and him can appear in Jurassic together,' Bailey said. He added: 'Dr Ian Malcolm and Dr Henry Loomis on a night out.' Bailey stars on the cover of the summer Heroes issue of British GQ and will be speaking at the GQ Heroes conference, taking place at Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire from July 2 to 4. The Heroes Issue of British GQ is available via digital download and on newsstands on June 10.
