Serious food supply difficulties are emerging in parts of eastern Africa. A major food crisis has emerged in southern Somalia, as a result of an upsurge in the long-running civil conflict which has exacerbated the impact of a recent severe drought that led to a poor harvest, the seventh in a row. With relief operations seriously impeded, nearly 1.6 million people are inaccessible to humanitarian agencies, and a number of starvation related deaths have been reported. Elsewhere in eastern Africa, dry spells and erratic rains have sharply reduced cereal production in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia, resulting in large numbers of people needing food assistance. In Eritrea, the food situation has deteriorated for more than half a million people displaced by the war with Ethiopia. In Sudan, despite favourable harvest prospects, more than 2 million people in the south continue to rely on emergency food assistance due to civil war. FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions are currently in Ethiopia and Sudan.
Food situation remains precarious in the Great Lakes region. In Burundi, food supply difficulties have intensified due to the recent escalation of violence in some parts, resulting in renewed displacement of people and forcing the suspension of international humanitarian assistance. The food and health situation of around 821 000 people in camps is of serious concern. Living conditions in these camps are reported to be extremely poor, with no clean water and sanitary facilities. The overall crop prospects are also unfavourable, due to dry weather and reduced planting. A reduced harvest this season will follow a below-normal harvest of the last season, and it is expected, therefore, that the already tight food situation will deteriorate in the coming months. Elsewhere in the Great Lakes region, the food supply situation remains critical in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an estimated 10 million people are food insecure due to civil strife. Floods in Kinshasa in early December have compounded the food problem. In the Republic of Congo, civil strife continues to hamper agriculture and marketing activities. In Rwanda, despite an overall increase in food production last season, severe food shortages are reported in several areas, with an estimated 900 000 returnees in need of urgent food assistance.
In southern Africa, the already precarious food situation in Angola has deteriorated, following an escalation of the civil war. In central and northern parts, severe food supply difficulties and malnutrition are reported among the displaced population in several areas, including Matalala, Kuito, Huambo and Malange. Insecurity and landmines continue to hinder access by humanitarian workers to Bailundo and Andulo, recently taken by Government forces, and other besieged cities that are isolated from commercial activities. Elsewhere in southern Africa, the food supply situation is stable, reflecting the good 1999 cereal harvests in several countries (Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar), a recovery to near-normal levels in others (Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia) and adequate commercial import capacity in countries where harvests were below average levels for the second consecutive year (Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe). In Madagascar, locusts are reported to be forming in central and south-western areas.
A record cereal harvest is anticipated in the Sahelian region. Timely and well distributed rainfall in most countries for the duration of the season has led to bumper crops in the Sahel, despite some serious localised flooding in The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad. Seed supply was adequate following the good harvests of 1998. The 1999 cereal output in the nine CILSS member countries is estimated by FAO/CILSS at a record 10.9 million tonnes, some 2 percent above 1998 and 16 percent above average. However, output in Guinea-Bissau remained below average following civil strife in 1998. In the coastal countries along the Gulf of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia continue to experience serious food problems, despite some improvement in production, particularly in Liberia. In Sierra Leone, following the peace agreement signed in July 1999, the security situation has improved, allowing a resumption of humanitarian operations and rehabilitation activities. However, recent fighting in the northern towns of Makeni and Lunsar temporarily disrupted these activities. In Liberia, there has been a significant improvement in food production, reflecting the impact of a range of interventions in agriculture. However, as the recent flare up of insecurity in Lofa Country in the north has indicated, the security situation is still fragile. Notwithstanding progress in food production, the two countries will continue to rely heavily on international food assistance for several years to come.
