Area: | 2 345 000 sq.km |
Climate: | Tropical wet climate in the central basin, tropical wet-dry in the extreme north and south |
Population: | 45.734 million (1998 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US $ 110 (1997) |
Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; tropical country with access to sea |
Logistics: | Roads inadequate |
Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, fruit |
Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: October (north), November-December (south) |
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 15 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Civil strife continues since the beginning of August, mainly in the east. Planting for season A is now underway in Kivu but insecurity is hindering farming activities. Severe shortages of food and medicines are reported. Cholera remains a major concern, especially in the Shabunda area in South Kivu. Moreover, many farming households were unable to take full advantage of the favourable weather conditions during the last season B largely due to lack of inputs. Considerable population movements have been reported, both within DRC and to neighbouring countries. Local authorities in Goma have appealed for assistance for 31 750 people, most of whom have lost their homes in the conflict areas. More than 11 000 Burundian refugees hosted by the local population in South Kivu, mainly in the Uvira region, are also in poor health with high malnutrition rates. The situation is particularly worrisome in Kindu, in Maniema Province, as all ground links have been cut.
The food supply situation is also deteriorating in Lubumbashi, where flooding in the province last year destroyed up to 70 percent of crops and basic foodstuffs are costly and becoming increasingly scarce in the markets. In addition, Lubumbashi is host to displaced people who came from Kalemie, Nyunzu and Nyemba areas in mid-October. Between 20 000 and 40 000 displaced people are also reported around Kabalo, Nyunzu, Nyemba, Manono and Ankoro. In the Orientale Province, there are tens of thousands of vulnerable people in Kisangani where there is a scarcity of consumer goods on local markets, as the town has not been supplied since mid-August.
Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
Normal Production | 20 | 440 | 1 250 | 1 710 |
Normal Imports | 100 | 40 | 30 | 170 |
of which: Structural food aid | 5 | - | 20 | 25 |
1998 Domestic Availability | 18 | 313 | 1 288 | 1 619 |
1997 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 18 | 470 | 1 288 | 1 776 |
1997 Production (rice in milled terms) | 18 | 313 | 1 288 | 1 619 |
Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
1998 Utilization | 163 | 363 | 1 348 | 1 874 |
Food Use | 156 | 307 | 1 060 | 1 523 |
of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 5 | 5 |
Non-food use | 7 | 56 | 288 | 351 |
Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
1998 Import Requirement | 145 | 50 | 60 | 255 |
Anticipated commercial imports | 140 | 50 | 40 | 230 |
Food aid needs | 5 | - | 20 | 25 |
Current Aid Position | ||||
Food aid pledges | 4 | - | - | 4 |
of which: Delivered | - | - | - | - |
Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 5 | 5 |
of which: for local use | - | - | 5 | 5 |
for export | - | - | - | - |
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 3 | 7 | 23 | 33 |
Indexes | ||||
1997 production as % of normal: | 104 | |||
1998 import requirement as % of normal: | 150 | |||
1998 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 100 |