FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3, December 1999 1

INTRODUCTION

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 looming food crisis in Somalia and the deteriorating food supply situation in Burundi. It draws attention to the need for urgent assistance by millions of people in these countries and also in several eastern African countries, where drought this year has seriously affected crop production. It also highlights the grave humanitarian crisis that has intensified in Angola and the continuing need for international food assistance in Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau and Liberia.

Part II contains an assessment of crop prospects and the food supply situation by sub-region, giving the latest estimates of cereal 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 late November 1999 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).