The main rice crop which was planted in late March is growing satisfactorily. With a stable security situation throughout the country, humanitarian aid can be delivered and farming activities carried out in most areas, and an improvement in the nutritional status of the population is reported. Food supply on the urban market is stable. However, food prices remain high.
Liberia remains heavily dependent on food aid. The number of refugees and displaced persons is currently estimated at 800 000, including some 56 000 new arrivals from Sierra Leone. The cereal import requirement for 1998 (January/December), is currently estimated at 240 000 tonnes, including 130 000 tonnes of food aid.