Moscow: Around 40 countries currently require continuous external food assistance, Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Liaison Office with Russia, told RIA Novosti in an interview. These nations and regions are in need of ongoing support to tackle food shortages.

According to Nam News Network, Kobiakov highlighted that famine is expected to worsen in 13 countries. The FAO is urging major donors, including Russia, to make voluntary contributions to its emergency assistance programs. The countries facing a potential deterioration in their food situation include Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Syria, Somalia, and Chad.

Kobiakov noted that there has been notable improvement in Southeast Asia and South Asia, primarily due to socio-economic growth in India, as well as in South America. However, this positive development contrasts with the steady increase in famine across most sub-regions of Africa and West Asia.