Famine threat to Africa 'growing'

Food production in Zimbabwe is one third of 2001 levels

Thirty million Africans face food shortages next year unless international donors come up with nearly $1bn (£629m).

The warning comes in a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, which calls on donors to double their pledges.

The level of need has doubled since the two organisations last appealed for aid pledges in July, but they said that so far they have managed to raise only half the target.

"The food security situation in Southern Africa has continued to deteriorate since the summer," the report said.

Famine risk doubles

In the Horn of Africa, a second famine is unfolding in Ethiopia and Eritrea, adding to the problems of tackling food shortages in Southern Africa, they warned.

About 15 million people are now thought to be at risk from "a major food crisis" in the Horn of Africa next year.

This in addition to the 14.4 million people already known to be facing chronic food shortages in Southern Africa next year.

An appeal in July brought in $286m, less than half the target of $611m. By far the biggest portion of that target was for food aid - $507m - with $104m for other kinds of assistance.

Now a further $600m of support is needed for the Horn of Africa, bringing the total shortfall up to $925m, the report said.

Aids adds to famine

HIV/Aids has also hit agricultural productivity, directly contributing to food shortages.

"The combination of HIV/Aids prevalence and food deficiency is causing an unprecedented increase in dependency on international financial assistance," said World Bank vice president for Africa Callisto Madavo and IMF African department director Abdoulaye Bio Tchane.

"Donors' response to date has met only half of the mid-year appeal for aid by UN agencies," they said in a joint statement to the World Bank and IMF boards.

"Since then, the needs have doubled, and we urge donors to increase the assistance provided to deal with this enormous humanitarian crisis."

In Southern Africa, about half the population of Zimbabwe faces food shortages, as do a quarter of people in Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland and Zambia.