Thousands take part in Trócaire’s 24-hour fast for Africa

Thousands of Irish people are taking part in Trócaire's annual 24-hour fast for Africa today.

Last year, the fast raised €1.4m for long-term development projects on the continent and Trócaire is hoping to equal if not exceed that figure this year.

The charity said hunger and preventable diseases kill 250,000 Africans every week, the same amount of people as died in the St Stephen's Day tsunami in south Asia.

Spokesman Justin Kilcullen said: "We're asking people who responded so generously to the tsunami in south-east Asia to really do something special for Africa this year."