UNITED NATIONS 

The UN children's agency warned Tuesday that children in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel could die in ''devastating numbers'' because of severe malnutrition and the risk of water-borne disease.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell appealed for urgent support as Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia grapple with severe drought.

The number of people dealing with drought in the Horn of Africa has risen from 9.5 million to 16.2 million since February, putting children and families in increased danger of diseases like cholera and diarrhea, she said.

''Millions of children are just one disease away from catastrophe,'' added Russell.