Southern Africa gripped by famine

THE southern African famine has become so severe even mice are scarce in the region, aid agencies have said.

The tiny rodents, not normally considered a delicacy, are one of the last sources of food left, with one mouse being shared between a family of 10 in a dish known as African sausage.

Driven from the land by a lack of food, the mice are all but dead. Many people fear they will soon share the rodents' plight.