The United Nations on Friday said that it is ready to support Kenya after it declares drought a national disaster, which is affecting more than 23 counties in the African country.

"The United Nations stands ready to support the government in its assistance to affected communities," Farhan Haq, deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here.

A preliminary assessment indicates that the number of food insecure across Kenya has doubled from 1.3 million in August 2016 to 2.7 million -- with a rainfall deficit of up to 75 percent in north-western and coastal areas, Haq noted.

Earlier Friday, the Kenyan government declared the current drought affecting 23 arid and semi-arid counties and pockets of other areas a national disaster.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta called on all stakeholders to support the government by upscaling drought mitigation programs as the severe drought has left more than 2 million people in urgent need of food assistance.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have warned that Kenya is facing a severe drought and with it a rise in food insecurity.

FAO said poor rains in 2016 and drought in 2017 has led to a significant risk of drought conditions in 2017, threatening the food security of some of the country's most vulnerable people.

source: Xinhua