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Over 29 mln people in east Africa facing high levels of food insecurity, official says

It is reported that the current severe crisis is the result of both prolonged drought in the east of the continent and developments in Ukraine, which led to a sharp rise in food prices

PRETORIA, April 11. /TASS/. As many as 29 mln people in the member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), located in East Africa, are facing high levels of food insecurity, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said at a press conference dedicated to the food security situation in the region.

"Across the IGAD region, 29 million people are facing high levels of food insecurity," the organization said in a tweet, citing the official. According to him, up to 16 mln people are in need of immediate food assistance, including up to 6.5 mln in Ethiopia, 3.5 mln in Kenya and 6 mln in Somalia.

According to Gebeyehu, the current severe crisis is the result of both prolonged drought in the east of the continent and developments in Ukraine, which led to a sharp rise in food prices in the past weeks.

IGAD, created in 1986, brings together Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Djibouti and Eritrea. The organization is headquartered in Djibouti.

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