U.N. official calls food shortages in Southern Africa 'a chronic problem'

U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Catherine Bragg on Saturday said food shortages are "a chronic problem" in southern Africa, "where more than 5.5 million people in eight countries need aid this year, a 40 percent increase compared to 2011," according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Associated Press reports. Ending a five-day trip to the region, "Bragg ... said worsening food shortages are the result of drought or floods and rising world food prices," according to the AP (10/20). Bragg met with officials in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa to discuss increased cooperation and preparedness, the U.N. News Centre reports, noting Malawi, Lesotho, and Swaziland also are affected by chronic food shortages, according to OCHA (10/19).