Falling food prices lead to reduction of hunger number

However, he warned that the food security situation in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa was still in a ‘critical state’.

The FAO chief praised the response of the international community to the recent famine in Somalia, but said gains in Somalia are ‘still fragile’ and a sustained effort was needed to prevent a repetition.

"In Somalia, a combination of good rains and coordinated and dedicated efforts of the international community, including the work FAO did with our sister agency World Food Programme and UNICEF, allowed us to overcome famine conditions in only six months.”