Canadians have until Friday at midnight to donate to registered charities helping famine-ravaged East Africa and see their money matched by the federal government.

Friday is the deadline for Canada’s 10-week program that will see it match dollar-for-dollar the donations by private individuals to aid agencies working on drought-relief efforts in Somalia and neighbouring countries.

The head of the five non-profits offering aid to the Horn of Africa countries says it’s imperative to get supplies to people as soon as possible.

“It’s really important that we get assistance out to communities before people have to pick up and leave and go to refugee camps,” said Nicolas Moyer, executive director of the Humanitarian Coation.