Iraq received the $270 million in food pledges it needed within five days of a UN appeal. At least $1 billion is needed to feed around 40 million people in need of emergency food aid across East and Southern Africa and in Cote D'Ivoire until the end of the year, international aid agencies say. While international donors have belatedly pledged $800 million in emergency food assistance over the past month, there are increasing indications that sub Saharan Africa will get nowhere near what it needs to provide basic food rations for millions of people.