SUDAN* (2 October)
Prospects for the 2005 food crops, to be harvested from October, are still uncertain. In southern Sudan, early indications suggest an average crop but remain to be verified through crop assessments. Overall, Sudan’s estimated rainfall reached near to above-normal levels, with potentially excessive totals in the northeastern agricultural areas and possibly below-normal amounts in north-eastern Darfur. Heavy rainfall was recorded in late July-early August in areas of West Darfur which is expected to benefit crops and improve water and pasture conditions.
In southern Sudan, the optimism that followed the peace deal signed in January 2005 to end the war has given way to apprehension following the tragic death of the First Vice-President of Sudan, Dr. John Garang. The optimism had prompted large numbers of Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries to trek back to their villages. The humanitarian challenges and rehabilitation and reconstruction needs of the shattered economy and infrastructure will be enormous. According to an inter-agency UN assessment, access to sufficient food is worsening for the returnees and poor households in the south-western Sudanese region of Bahr el Ghazal and malnutrition levels are reportedly starting to rise. The continued crisis in Greater Darfur remains the most pressing humanitarian problem.
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission is visiting southern Sudan in October and is planned to visit northern Sudan in November to assess the main season production and estimate food assistance requirements, if any, in 2006.