Five top Canadian charities have united to address the famine in Somalia.

The Humanitarian Coalition, made up of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec, Plan Canada and Save the Children, allows Canadians to donate to the relief effort of the crisis in Somalia in one place.

The network aims to reduce competition, educate the public on humanitarian needs, increase the impact of Canadian responses and reduce administrative costs.

Robert Fox, executive director of Oxfam Canada, told CTV News Channel on Tuesday that response from Canadians hasn't been as strong as he wishes.

"We know people are enjoying the summer," he said. "But literally by going to your computer and making a contribution through Together.ca or the Oxfam site or one of the other organizations that are involved in the Humanitarian Coalition, we can make a significant impact and we must make a significant impact."

Fox said Oxfam is increasingly concerned with how desperate the situation is in Somalia.

"People are arriving at the camps in increasing numbers day by day, arriving in evermore sick conditions," he said, adding many are dehydrated, starving and have lost children along the way.

"Now is the time to act, there are already huge losses and a huge level of risk," he said. "There are 12 million people who are in jeopardy in this situation."

Donations can also be made to the World Food Programme, a United Nations program that aims to reduce hunger in the world, and UNICEF Canada, which is scaling up its lifesaving interventions in Somalia.