United Nations, Feb 19 (IANS): The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) would provide urgent assistance to Cape Verde where food security and livelihoods are at risk following a sharp fall in crop production due to drought, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.

"The Organisation would provide food crop seeds, animal feed and drip irrigation equipment to help thousands of people in the country," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here Wednesday, Xinhua reported.

Some 30,000 people need urgent assistance, with many of the most vulnerable households having lost all or a large part of their cereal crops in eight of the most affected islands in Cape Verde.

The emergency intervention aims to assist more than 8,000 rural households which are the most vulnerable to the impact of drought.

FAO, founded in October 1945, is the lead agency for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development in the UN system. The UN agency works to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security.