Updated Monday 19 December 2005

During this year's "lean season" as many as five million people could need food aid in this southern African country.

WORSENING SITUATION

Many Malawians told WFP workers that they are only eating one meal or less per day and that they are resorting to eating water lily bulbs.

These bulbs aren’t very nutritious and can be highly dangerous to harvest because of crocodiles.

The number of children going to hospital because of malnutrition is also increasing compared to last year.