Agence France-Presse: 40,000 starving to death as S. Sudan teeters on famine: U.N.
“At least 40,000 people are being starved to death in South Sudan war zones on the brink of famine, the United Nations said Monday, in a plea to rival forces to let aid in…” (2/8).

Agence France-Presse: Children in Somalia starving amid ‘alarming’ drought: U.N.
“Over 58,000 children will starve to death in Somalia without urgent support, the United Nations warned Monday, amid severe drought in the impoverished and war-torn Horn of Africa country…” (2/7).

Bloomberg Business: U.N. Says 40,000 in South Sudan Face Food Shortage Catastrophe
“…The numbers are ‘particularly worrisome because they show an increase in hunger during the post-harvest period — a time when the country is traditionally most food secure,’ the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Children’s Fund, and World Food Programme said Monday in a joint e-mailed statement…” (Francis, 2/8).

Deutsche Welle: Drought and war spark famine across Horn of Africa and South Sudan
“Millions of people are on the brink of famine across the Horn of Africa and South Sudan. The crisis in Ethiopia is driven by drought, in Somalia by drought and war; in South Sudan, it is driven exclusively by war…” (2/8).

U.N. News Centre: Unprecedented food crisis looms over strife-torn South Sudan, U.N. agencies warn
“…The numbers are expected to peak during the coming lean season, traditionally worst between April and July, when food availability is lowest. Humanitarian partners project that the lean season will start early this year, and the hunger period will be longer than in previous years…” (2/8).

U.N. News Centre: In Somalia, food security and malnutrition situation is ‘alarming’ — U.N. report
“…This latest assessment confirms persistently high and alarming levels of food insecurity and malnutrition in Somalia, with an estimated 4.7 million people — nearly 40 percent of the Somali population — in need of humanitarian assistance…” (2/8).