Today. 150 million Africansone out of every three residents living south of the Sahara desertin 24 countries are faced with severe food shortages. Perhaps 14 million of thesehalf of them In Ethiopiaare at risk of starvation. Their numbers are growing. Estimates gathered from international relief agencies. private voluntary organizations and others working in these countries suggest that as many as 300.000 have died in Ethiopia. and another 100.000 in Mozambique. Thousands more have died In Chad. and in refugee camps in the Sudan. Without additional food. clothing. medicine. shelter. and some rudimentary tools. seeds and fertilizers. there can be little hope of stabilizing the situation anytime soon. Without rain. the near term prospects for recovery are almost nil.