FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.3
In Southern Africa, nearly 13 million people are in need of emergency food aid in marketing year 2002/03 (April/March) in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland, following two consecutive poor cereal harvests. A prolonged dry spell during the 2001/02 growing season, and excessive precipitation in parts, devastated crops in large growing areas. In Zimbabwe, reduced plantings in the large-scale commercial sector due to land reform activities compounded the problem. Maize production in the sub-region fell sharply, reaching less than one-quarter of last year�s level in Zimbabwe, one-third in Lesotho and just over a half in Malawi, Zambia and Swaziland. Maize supplies were further reduced by the depletion of Government and farmers� stocks following the 2001 reduced cereal crops. Late and insufficient imports in the last marketing season resulted in severe food shortages and unprecedented increases in prices. Coping mechanisms of the vulnerable populations in the sub-region have virtually been exhausted. A regional emergency operation valued at US$507.3 million was jointly approved by FAO and WFP in late June to provide food assistance to about 10.3 million people or 80 percent of the affected population until the next main harvest from April 2003. However, by early August, only 24 percent of this amount had been pledged. Donors are urged to commit critically needed food aid and financial support to Southern Africa to avert a large scale humanitarian crisis. Assistance is also urgently required with agricultural inputs. Against FAO�s estimated requirements of US$25 million for Malawi, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, pledges by mid-August covered only 26 percent. More contributions are, therefore, needed before the next main planting season starting in October.
In eastern Africa, the food outlook is bleak in several countriesdue to poor seasonal rains. In Eritrea, crop prospects are grim with the short (azmera) rains from March to May having failed totally. The drought has also continued into the important planting months of June and July, raising serious concerns over the country�s prospective food security. Over one million people are currently estimated to be in need of assistance. Similarly in Ethiopia, severe drought conditions have caused the death of large numbers of livestock, mainly in the eastern and north-eastern pastoral areas. The number of people in need of assistance is now estimated at more than 8 million. In Kenya, poor rains in parts and an early end to the main season rains elsewhere have reversed earlier optimistic crop prospects and raised serious concerns over the food supply outlook. Despite improved pastures in some pastoral areas, food insecurity persists in several districts. Nearly 1.3 million people are estimated to be dependent on food assistance. In Somalia, despite a favourable forecast for the main (gu) season crops, serious malnutrition rates are reported in several parts, reflecting diminished livelihoods due to successive droughts and long-term effects of years of insecurity. The recent escalation of conflict, particularly around Baidoa, north-eastern Somalia (Puntland) and in Mogadishu, has displaced a large number of people and disrupted delivery of food assistance to vulnerable groups. In Tanzania and Uganda, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, the escalation of conflict in northern Uganda has displaced large numbers of people, adding to the more than 1.5 million IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable people that already depend on food assistance.
In the Great Lakes region, the food supply situation has improved in Rwanda and Burundi following good harvests of the 2002 second season crops. By contrast, the food and nutritional situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo gives cause for serious concern. Persistent civil strife continues to cause massive population displacements, with the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently estimated at 2 million. Their food situation is extremely serious, as distribution of relief assistance is hampered by insecurity. The food supply situation in Kinshasa is also serious, as food availability falls far short of needs.
In western Africa, dry weather conditions have seriously affected crops in parts, particularly in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal. In Cape Verde, prospects for the maize crop, normally planted from July, are unfavourable due to delayed onset of rains. By contrast, crop growing conditions have improved in central and eastern parts of the Sahel with increased and better distributed rainfall in most agricultural regions of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger. Agricultural activities in Liberia have been disrupted by renewed civil strife, pointing to reduced rice production this year. Sierra Leone and Guinea remain heavily dependent on international food assistance due to large numbers of IDPs and refugees.
Sub-Saharan Africa�s cereal import requirements are expected to increase in 2002/03, reflecting large production shortfalls in southern Africa and anticipated reduced harvests in eastern Africa.