Prospects for the 2002 winter cereal crops, mainly wheat, are generally uncertain due to inadequate precipitation in some cereal producing areas, shortage of agricultural inputs and disruption of farming activities by the recent military operations which coincided with the planting season.

The food situation in Afghanistan remains grave, notwithstanding the relative calm and improved delivery of food assistance. Years of civil strife and three successive years of severe drought have exposed millions of people to extreme hardship. Even before the events of 11 September, Afghanistan was in the grip of a severe food crisis and intensifying economic problems due to continuing civil conflict. During the past three years, the country has suffered a devastating drought which compounded the impact of years of conflict and brought a large section of the population to the brink of starvation. In addition, a devastating earthquake in northern parts in late March resulted in hundreds of deaths and an estimated 10 000 people have been left homeless. Relief operations are underway and temporary shelters have been established for the homeless.

The 2001 cereal output has been estimated at about 2 million tonnes, well below average and about one-half of the production in 1998. As a result, cereal import requirements in the current marketing year 2001/02 (July/June) were forecast at a near record 2.2 million tonnes. An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission is planned to visit the country from mid June to assess the overall food supply conditions and estimate cereal import requirements in 2002/03, including food aid.

An Emergency Operation worth US$284.98 million was jointly approved in January 2002 by FAO and WFP for food assistance to some 9.88 million vulnerable people for a period of 9 months.