Famine, soaring food prices threaten millions in east Africa

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

NAIROBI (AFP) — More than 14 million people across east Africa are facing a humanitarian disaster because of a "lethal mix" of soaring food prices, drought and conflict, aid agencies say.

"The situation in the region is of extreme concern," Peter Smerdon, spokesman for the World Food Programme in Nairobi, told AFP Friday.

"Rising food prices on top of drought this year means that more and more people than in previous years are falling over the edge into destitution," he said.

His comments echo warnings from the UN children's agency and the British-based development charity Oxfam.

"A lethal mix of drought, expanding conflict, rising food and energy prices, disease and high poverty is pushing children and their families in the Greater Horn of Africa to...