Food crisis worsens in Africa

Pervasive high food prices are putting millions of people in dozens of poor countries at risk of critical food insecurity, according to the United Nations.

The UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation made the claim in its latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, released on Tuesday, 10 November 2009, ahead of next week's World Summit on Food Security in Rome.

The report states that 31 countries are currently facing critical food insecurity despite good global cereal harvests in 2009, since wheat, maize and rice export prices are still much higher than before the economic crisis.

The report highlights the East African region, where an estimated 20 million people are in need of food aid after long months of drought and escalating armed conflicts.

Source: Panos London