United Nations, Dhu-AlHijjah 18, 1436, October 02, 2015, SPA -- The number of Ethiopians needing food assistance has risen sharply due to lack of rain and the El Nino weather phenomenon, with about 7.5 million people now in need, U.N. officials said Friday. The number has nearly doubled since August, when the United Nations said 4.5 million were in need. Officials now warn that without action, “15 million people will require food assistance” next year, more than inside Syria. “Without a robust response supported by the international community, there is a high probability of a significant food insecurity and nutrition disaster,” the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. The U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that over 300,000 children are severely malnourished. --SPA 19:23 LOCAL TIME 16:23 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w