News In Brief

US emergency food aid to Africa to be doubled

The US is doubling its emergency food aid to Africa to help overcome the threat of famine in 22 drought-affected countries this year, Agriculture Secretary John Block said Tuesday. He told a UN Food and Agriculture Organization conference that US emergency food donations to Africa will total $ 50 million this year, $25 million more than had been scheduled. This is in addition to regular bilateral food and farm development aid to Africa. FAO officials say more than 150 million people are threatened with famine.