"Almost 16 million people face hunger in Southern Africa because of a drought exacerbated by an El Nino weather pattern and that number could climb to almost 50 million, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.

"El Nino is progressing toward a potential regional emergency requiring a coordinated response," WFP said in a report on the unfolding situation.

In January WFP said 14 million people in the region faced hunger.

The figures exclude South Africa, where President Jacob Zuma said last month that 2.7 million households would be affected by the drought."

Ed Stoddard reports for Reuters March 4, 2016. [2]