The European Union said today it was sharply increasing food and humanitarian aid to southern Africa to combat severe food shortages.
"In response to the continuing humanitarian crisis in southern Africa, the EU today announced that its contribution had risen to exceed 3.0 billion rand ($290 million)," the EU said.
The EU had said yesterday it had committed over 1.5 billion rand ($145 million) in food and humanitarian aid primarily to Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia, which are worst hit by food shortages caused by drought and policy problems.
Some 14 million people in southern Africa face severe food shortages. Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland are also listed as being in critical need of food. Angola and Namibia also have food shortages but are not listed as facing critical problems.