'There is famine in Ethiopia right now,' says UN aid chief

Over 350,000 people in Ethiopia's conflict-ravaged Tigray region are experiencing dire hunger, finds a new report by the United Nations and other aid groups.

"There is famine in Ethiopia right now," United Nations aid chief Mark Lowcock warned on Thursday. According to the global Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, which evaluates food insecurity and malnutrition around the world, substantial parts of the Tigray region are currently in an "IPC 5 Catastrophe" status -- its most severe rating.