Leaders of 15 southern African countries will gather for an annual summit on Monday as the region grapples with serious food shortages that have left a record number of people needing aid, AFP reports.
A toxic mix of erratic rains, abnormally high temperatures and floods have wreaked havoc on farming, writing off the bulk of this year's crop.
An estimated 27.4 million people out of the region's combined population of 292 million will be depending on food handouts by the end of the year.