The Tanzanian president has allayed famine fears, saying that the food shortage in his country is not critical compared to other African countries.

Local media quoted President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete as telling a World Federation of Khoja Shia Inthinashir delegation on Sunday that the situation should not be blown out of proportion.

"It's true that we're facing food shortages, but the situation is not serious like in some other African countries," President Kikwete said, adding that the food shortages were manageable up to May this year.

The president said that his country needs 100,000 tons of emergency food aid that will be used if drought persists.

President Kikwete also urged people wishing to help not to exaggerate the problem, saying that the situation had yet to reach an alarming state.

"But the situation may be difficult if after May the long rains fail as well," the president said.

The Tanzanian government has formally asked the international community to contribute 100,000 tons of relief food for 3,764,843 people in 618,816 households in 10 of the 26 administrative regions that were at risk of famine and these people needed 99,676 tons of relief food between now and April.

The figures were provided by the Tanzanian National Food Security Information Team.

Tanzania now has 57,620 tons of relief food in stock in its Strategic Grain Reserves.

Source: Xinhua