doc_text: TEAMS OF US and inter-national experts are being sent to southern Africa to assess the impact on food supplies of what in some areas is the worst drought of the century.
  Officials said millions of people will be affected, AP reports from Washington.
  Among the hardest hit of the 10 drought-stricken countries are Zimbabwe and South Africa, traditional food exporters which this year will have to import substantial quantities of grain.
  As the drought persists, estimates of the grain harvest throughout the region have been falling precipitously.
  The deteriorating situation in southern Africa adds a new dimension to the continent's overall food crisis.
  The north-east is the most deprived area in Africa, encompassing Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti.
  The lives of 15m people are thought to be at risk.
  Officials in Zimbabwe said last week 60,000 cattle died from starvation during February alone and thousands more will die unless heavy rains come soon.
  The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organisation warned late last month that the drought could lead to widespread famine.
  About 98m people live in the affected regions in southern Africa.
  'Considerable donor assistance will be needed to avert a major humanitarian crisis in the region,' the US State Department said last week.
summary_text: International experts are being sent to southern Africa to assess the effects of a severe drought on food supplies.
  Ten drought-stricken countries are affected with Zimbabwe and South Africa in the most severe condition.
  These two countries, normally food exporters, must now import substantial amounts of grain.
  It has been described as the worst drought of the century, with about 15 million people at risk.
  Additionally, the northeast of Africa, including Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti, has also felt the drought.
  The U.S. State Department believes that a huge donor assistance program will be needed to avoid the crisis.