William and Catherine to Support East African Famine Relief

March 8: Britain's Prince William and his fiance Kate Middleton leave City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (AP)

LONDON -- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have decided to bring public attention to the starvation crisis in East Africa, a region they hold dear.

Clarence House announced Wednesday the couple will visit UNICEF's worldwide emergency supply center in Copenhagen, Denmark on Nov. 2 to view how food and medical supplies are being sent to East Africa, where severe food shortages are affecting more than 13 million people.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who got engaged in Kenya, will be accompanied on their visit by The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark, who they will also be visiting privately.

Clarence House said the Royal Highnesses were eager to focus global attention on the escalating crisis in East Africa, where more areas are expected to be declared hit by famine over the next few months.

The visit was arranged at short notice because of the ongoing emergency and the date chosen to fit in with the Duke's ongoing RAF Search and Rescue commitments.

About 320,000 children in East Africa are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and are at imminent risk of death, Clarence House said.

Supplies sent by UNICEF include nutritional treatments, supplementary foods, vaccines, water and medical kits.

Elhadj As Sy, UNICEF's Regional Chief of Eastern and Southern Africa said, "Right now, UNICEF, along with many other partners, is working tirelessly to ensure that children's lives can be saved across East Africa. Every day children are being given food and water thanks to the huge generosity of the public all around the world."