The agricultural activities continue to be disrupted by the persistent civil conflict, particularly in the eastern Kivu provinces. In spite of adequate rains, planting of the 2002 second season crops has been negatively affected by intensification of fighting in these areas in the past months, particularly in the Hauts Plateaux of South Kivu Province. Recent reports indicate that about 64 percent of the population of eastern DRC are undernourished. This is where most of the 2.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are located. Overall, it is estimated that 16 million people, or 33 percent of the DRC population face critical food needs as a result of prolonged displacement. While access to the vulnerable population has improved in Government’s controlled areas due to the simplification of procedures for international humanitarian agencies, the situation remains desperate in the Kivu provinces and northern Katanga, where insecurity and violence continues to hamper provision of humanitarian assistance.