UN agencies warn of impending severe food shortages in Sudan

More than 3 million people in southern Sudan are facing serious food shortages because of civil strife and an emerging drought, according to a joint report released Friday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN World Food Program (WFP).

The report warns that food stocks are dwindling rapidly while prices are rising sharply -- already three times over what they were last year. It calls for immediate assistance to pastoralists, who are particularly affected by fast-falling livestock prices and high cereal costs.

According to the report, some 600,000 people are in urgent need of food assistance, while some 2.4 million Sudanese affected by civil strife are projected to require some form of food aid next year.

The agencies say the country will need to import 1.2 million tons of cereals -- 1 million tons commercially and 200,000 as food aid. "Food aid pledges stand at 34,000 tones, leaving an uncovered gap of 138,000 tons," the report warns.