The number of people critically hungry in the world has reached its highest level on record, with more than one billion, or one out of six people, unable to feed themselves.

The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) has said that the number of hungry people will pass the one billion mark this year, at the same time that it faces a 20-year-low in food aid.

The WFP says it needs $6.67bn in funds to help people around the world cope with rising food prices, droughts and conflicts, but it has only received $2.6bn so far.

The programme has said the shortage in aid means it has to cut its services worldwide.

In Bangladesh, the WFP reaches barely one million people, out of five million who are unable to feed themselves.

In Kenya, it is only able to reach half of those struggling to cope with drought.
 
Josette Sheeran, executive director of the WFP, predicts the crisis is going to become much worse.

She spoke to Al Jazeera's Barbara Serra in London.