Geneva, December 12 (QNA) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that it will reduce food rations for Sudanese communities in famine due to a funding shortfall, effective next month.

"Beginning in January, rations will be reduced to 70 percent for communities in famine areas and 50 percent for those at risk of famine," WFP Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response Ross Smith told reporters in Geneva.

"As of April we will fall off a cliff when it comes to funding," Smith added.

Last week, the UN and its partners launched a global humanitarian appeal to save millions of lives in war zones and conflict areas, including Sudan which requires $2.9 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 20 million people trapped in the world's largest displacement crisis. (QNA)