Food prices in some East African markets have almost doubled in the past 12 months because of an ongoing drought, an economist with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned.

In FAO’s latest Food Price Monitoring and Analysis Bulletin, the agency reports that local prices for maize, sorghum and other cereals are “near or at record levels” in areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.

The drought has affected the southern part of the region but in some countries, like Somalia and South Sudan, the crisis has been made worse because of conflict and violence.

FAO economist Mario Zappacosta has been speaking to Sandra Ferrari about the situation.

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