U.N. food agency says faces $610 million shortfall for southern Africa drought relief

The United Nations' food agency said on Thursday it needed $730 million over the next 12 months for relief in seven southern African countries hit hard by a blistering drought and faced a $610 million shortfall. The World Food Programme (WFP) said in a statement the seven countries were Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Madagascar, Swaziland and Zambia. In Malawi, WFP said it needed $288 million but had only sourced $43 million, while in Zimbabwe – where drought has exacerbated an economic meltdown which has led to unrest – $228 million was required but only a tenth of that has been raised.

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U.N. food agency says faces $610 million shortfall for southern Africa drought relief