FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops and Shortages 06/02 - AFGHANISTAN (3 June)

AFGHANISTAN * (3 June)

Recent locust invasion, described as the worst in 30 years, and floods in parts of the country have worsened the already unfavourable prospects for the 2002 cereal harvest. Hardest hit areas by the locust plague include the agriculturally important province of Baghlan. Heavy rains and floods in the northwestern parts and later in the central Province of Bamiyan have also destroyed large cropped areas

The overall food situation in Afghanistan remains precarious, notwithstanding the relative peace and improved delivery of food assistance. Emergency food aid programmes are facing funding shortfalls and the massive return of refugees from neighbouring countries is overwhelming humanitarian agencies. Years of civil strife and three successive years of severe drought have exposed millions of people to extreme hardship, with coping means virtually exhausted. 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 most vulnerable people for a period of 9 months.

An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission is scheduled to visit the country in late June to assess the overall food supply situation and estimate cereal import requirements in 2002/03, including food aid.