The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says 36 countries are currently dependent on external food aid, and says civil strife and bad weather are primarily to blame.
The organization says the majority of dependent countries continue to be in Africa, where 23 states rely on food assistance from abroad.
In its report, the U.N. agency warns that conflict and drought in the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur will most likely lead to a below-average harvest.
The organization warned of diminishing crops in Eritrea and Kenya, and says below-normal rainfall in southern Africa could adversely affect Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Swaziland
The report also says the food situation remains critical in the west African country of Mauritania, and says the conflict in Ivory Coast is disrupting agriculture and market activities there.
Some information provided by AFP.
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