Chad launches urgent food appeal

The government in Chad has launched an urgent appeal to the international community for food aid.

The Agriculture Minister Saleh Kebzabo said low rainfall this year meant that many countries in the region had fallen behind with their food production and described the situation in Chad as terrible.

He said that one and a half million people were affected in the regions of Biltine in the east, Kanem in the west and Batha in the centre.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service