Over 11mln people in need of humanitarian assistance in E.Africa: FAO

The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in East Africa remains high at about 11.6 million, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in its latest report released on Thursday.

According to FAO's new edition of the quarterly Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, food security is expected to worsen until October in Ethiopia, Kenya, the Sudan and South Sudan.

The report says some 28 countries in Africa, especially those hosting large numbers of refugees, are in need of external assistance for food.

"Since April/May, large-scale movements of displaced people within the sub-region has raised serious concerns about the food security of refugees as well as host communities, whose already limited resources are expected to be further strained," said the report.

According to FAO, some 4.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in South Sudan, 2.9 million in Ethiopia, 1. 6 million in Kenya, 1.4 million in the Sudan, 730,000 in Somalia, 180,000 in Uganda and 160,000 in Djibouti.

Meanwhile, the UN food agency said cereal production in 2015 is forecast below last year's bumper crop, largely reflecting a sharp reduction in Southern Africa due to adverse weather. It said delayed onset of seasonal rains in West Africa has also raised concern over production prospects.

A rebound in North Africa's cereal output, mainly wheat, is projected to prevent a steeper decline at the regional level, while a small increase is also forecast in Central Africa, despite persistent and disruptive conflicts, it said.

"The overall 2015 production outlook points to a decline from last year's high level, with all regions expecting reduced harvests, except Central and North Africa," it said. Endi