'World hunger is a scandal which still needs tackling': 100 charities and celebs back 'biggest coalition since Make Poverty History'

A new anti-hunger campaign supported by 100 charities and dozens of celebrities is aiming to become the biggest charity coalition since Make Poverty History.

One hundred development and faith British charities - along with stars like One Direction, Cameron Diaz and Orlando Bloom - have backed the 'Enough Food If' campaign, which aims to pile pressure on world leaders to tackle hunger.

The coalition are targeting the G8 summit in June, and they hope to bring it to David Cameron's attention when he hosts leders from the world's eight most powerful nations at a five-star resort in the UK.

Campaigners are arguing that there is enough food in the world to help end global hunger, but that the distribution of food is 'upside down'.

They want to get world leaders to pledge to tackle world hunger, having recruited 100 organisations and 'coming together in our masses'.

Enough Food If acknowledge that huge work has already been done in tackling world hunger, but they now want to make steps to ensuring no child goes to bed hungry by 'tackling the root causes of hunger'.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the many famous faces associated with the campaign, said: "Hunger is not an incurable disease or an unavoidable tragedy."

Actor David Harewood, who plays David Estes in Homeland, added: "When there is enough food to feed everyone, why are 870 million going hungry?

"We must learn to share what we have. No one race or nation has a greater right to life than another."

Microsoft chief Bill Gates, actor Bill Nighy and newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky are also among those who have pledged their support to the campaign.

Despite the progress made in tackling global hunger, organisers say it remains a 'major crisis'.

'If' say that almost one billion people could be dragged into poverty by 2025 because they are too hungry or weak to earn a wage packet.

They describe the fact that hunger exists even when there is enough food for everyone as a 'scandal'.

The 'If' campaign also argues that world hunger will cost the developed world £78 billion over the next 15 years.

Charities including Oxfam, Action Aid, Christian Aid, Unicef and Save the Children have all pledged their support to what is the biggest charity coalition since Make Poverty History almost eight years ago.

The campaign centres around tackling four big 'Ifs' - aid, tax, land and good governance - and that doing so will mean there is enough food for everyone in the world.

Sarah Jacobs, from Save the Children, who helped coordinate the campaign, said: "The last time a campaign came together with this many people involved was Make Poverty History.

"It's a major crisis that we need to tackle. We've made amazing progress in the last few years, but the issue of poverty has been sidelined.

"We feel it in the UK, but it's a matter of life and death in other parts of the world.

"The message we are trying to get across is that there is enough food in the world, but the food system is upside down.

"We need to make sure that promises which have been made by governments about life saving are carried through.

"World leaders can't ignore us if we come together in our masses."

The campaign itself will be launched at a glitzy ceremony in central London tonight. Other events will also take place elsewhere in the UK, and are free for the public to attend.

The opening spectacle will also include thousands of live tweets sent from the public.