GENEVA (AFP) -- Two million Burundians face a serious food crisis after devastating floods ravaged up to 80 percent of harvests in several regions, the United Nations' food agency has said.

The World Food Program (WFP) urgently needs 12 million dollars (9 million euros) to cover the food needs of a quarter of the central African nation's population through the end of June, or it will be forced to reduce rations, agency spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume told reporters Tuesday.

"The current situation shows all the preliminary signs of a huge catastrophe," she said, pointing out that the devastating torrential rains had been particularly damaging to Burundi, since it is still emerging from 13 years of civil war.

The government has declared seven of the country's 17 provinces disaster zones and launched a national help fund for the affected areas.

In the hardest hit northern and central regions of the country many people are already getting by on one meal a day, and in some cases, one meal every other day, Berthiaume said, adding that the situation would only get worse.

The WFP, which began delivering supplies to some 400,000 people at the beginning of the year, warned on January 20 that some 800,000 Burundians faced a serious food shortage.

The requested 12 million dollars are part of a joint appeal by the WFP and several other non-governmental organizations like CARE and Solidarities for 132 million dollars for their work in Burundi this year.