Food supply situation and crop prospects in Sub-Saharan Africa - December 2000

Abstract

This is the last of three annual issues of this report prepared by the FAO Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) on the food supply situation and cereal import and food aid requirements for all countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The report is designed to provide the latest analysis and information on the food situation in these countries to governments, international organizations and other institutions engaged in relief operations. Part I focuses on the persistent severe food s upply difficulties in eastern Africa, where an estimated 20 million people are affected. It highlights the precarious food situation in parts of the Great Lakes region mainly due to civil strife and insecurity. The report also draws attention to a likely deterioration in food supply prospects for Angola, reflecting growing insecurity at the critical planting period. Part II contains an assessment of crop prospects and the food supply situation by sub-region, giving the latest estimates of c ereal import and food aid requirements of all four sub-regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Part III presents the latest analysis and information on crop prospects and the food supply situation and outlook in each country. The information on food aid pledges, including triangular transactions and local purchases, and on expected arrivals, is based on data transmitted to GIEWS as of early December 2000 by the following donors: Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, EC, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States as well as the World Food Programme. For other donors, data are based on field reports from various sources (see Tables 7 and 8).