The current main “gu” season cereal crop being harvested in southern Somalia is forecast at about 260 000 tonnes (100 000 tonnes of sorghum and 160 000 tonnes of maize), more than double the relatively poor gu crop in 2001.
Despite the good gu crop that is expected to improve overall food supply situation in parts of southern Somalia, serious food supply difficulties remain in northern Gedo, as well as in Garbaharay and Burdhubo due to successive years of drought and insecurity. Recent escalation of conflict, particularly around Baidoa, north-eastern Somalia (Puntland) and in Mogadishu has displaced a large numbers of people and has prevented the delivery of food assistance to vulnerable groups, raising serious humanitarian concerns.
Elsewhere, in north-western Somalia (Somaliland) poor rains have adversely affected the establishment of the gu crop. The food situation is worsening in Sool, Sanag and Nugal regions where below-average rains have affected crop and livestock production. The continued ban on livestock imports from eastern Africa by countries along the Arabian Peninsula has reduced foreign exchange earnings and affected the livelihoods of a large number of pastoralists.