WFP: drought leaves millions hungry in E. Africa

The Jakarta Post, Associated Press, Nairobi | Sat, 04/02/2011

The head of the UN's World Food Program says a severe drought, high food prices and conflict have left more than 5 million people hungry across the Horn of Africa.

Josette Sheeran says the drought began with the failure of rains late last year in northern and eastern regions of Kenya, south-central Somalia and eastern Ethiopia.

The agency said the previous figure rose by 1.4 million.

Sheeran visited Kenya's capital Saturday on a fact-finding mission.

She warned that the number of people in need of food assistance could increase further if the region sees more poor rains.

The UN said last month that global food prices are the highest in 20 years.