U.N. envoy assessing needs of drought-hit Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters) -- Catherine Bertini, the United Nations secretary-general's special envoy, arrived in Nairobi on Sunday for an updated assessment of the drought now threatening 14 million people in the greater Horn of Africa region.

Bertini, executive director of the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP), is visiting Kenya and Ethiopia, the two worst-affected countries in the region.

"This is a follow-up to her tour of the Horn of Africa in April, and part of an on-going review of the drought crisis," a U.N. spokesperson said in Nairobi.

Large areas of Kenya and Ethiopia have had little rain for the past three years, creating serious food shortages. The WFP is already spearheading the import of relief food supplies to the region, but experts say more assistance is needed to counter famine.

On Monday, Bertini is due to visit Kajiado district, south of Nairobi, to assess the famine situation there. She will also meet government and aid officials before flying to Ethiopia on Wednesday.

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