CURRENT SITUATION

The final outcome of the 2001 cereal crop, harvested until last December, is now put at about 220 000 tonnes. This is more than three times the war and drought affected harvest the previous year and about average. Furthermore, the favorable climate outlook forecast for the March-May period in major cereal producing areas is anticipated to encourage planting of long-cycle cereal crops.

The overall food supply situation, however, remains tight reflecting the displacement of farmers by the recent war with Ethiopia and lingering effects of drought. A UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for 2002 for US $120 million was launched in November 2001 and includes assistance for medium and long-term programmes, particularly those targeting the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Although the number of IDPs in camps is gradually declining (currently about 60 000), food assistance is also required for refugees returning from Sudan, demobilized soldiers, resettled IDPs in the TSZ and drought impacted people in the Sahel regions of the country. During 2001, WFP has distributed about 150 000 tonnes of food commodities to 1 million beneficiaries and expects to distribute about 130 000 tonnes to 800 000 people in 2002.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 2002 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tonnes)