HARARE (AFP) -- Forty-three people have died from malnutrition in Zimbabwe's second largest city of Bulawayo in the last two months as food shortages hit urban areas, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Quoting a council report, the Standard said the people, mostly children under the age of five, had died in August and September.

"In some cases, families in Bulawayo say they have resorted to having porridge with only lemon juice but no sugar or bread," the paper reported.

These are not the first deaths in the city due to food shortages, blamed here on rising prices for imports and a drop in agricultural production.

Earlier this year, Bulawayo health officials said 40 people had already died of malnutrition.

At least 5.5 million Zimbabweans -- nearly half the population -- require food aid. The problem affects both Zimbabwe's poorer rural areas and the urban centres.