Rome, 1 March 2001 -- Some 60 million people in 33 countries are facing food
emergencies of varying intensity, according to a report released today by
the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
FAO's Foodcrops and Shortages found sub-Saharan Africa worst off with 16
countries suffering from exceptional food emergencies caused mostly by natural
disasters and civil strife. Despite improved weather conditions recently,
the report says, the effects of the drought in Eastern Africa are still being
felt in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Sudan and Tanzania, where emergency food
assistance continues to be provided to some 18 million people by international
relief agencies. The number of refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs)
due to civil strife continues to increase, particularly in Central and Western
Africa. In southern Africa, serious flooding in some areas, particularly
in Mozambique has caused loss of life and damage to property, infrastructure
and crops.
Asia has seen a grave food crisis emerge in Afghanistan, caused by incessant
civil strife and successive droughts and harsh winters. According to the
report, "In Mongolia, another extremely cold winter has killed large numbers
of livestock, aggravating the food insecurity of nomadic herders who lost
millions of their livestock last year."
Elsewhere in Asia, the food supply situation remains tight in North Korea
due to drought, economic difficulties and the coldest winter in decades.
Armenia, Georgia and Tajikistan all face food supply problems because of
last year's drought, according to the report. Altogether, 11 countries in
Asia are reported to be facing food emergencies.
In Central America, El Salvador's food production and marketing in 2001 will
be constrained by the damaged infrastructure caused by the earthquakes that
hit the country in early January and mid-February. In South America, the
wheat harvest is completed and prospects for the coarse grain crops in the
field are favorable, says the report.
One of the coldest winters on record in the United States may have raised
winterkill to above normal levels in some parts, reducing yields. Official
estimates indicate that the winter wheat area has declined by 5 percent since
last year - the lowest level since 1971. Dry conditions at sowing time in
the main growing areas are reportedly the major reason. In Canada, the report
says that early planting intentions for wheat and course grains suggest that
areas similar to the previous year will be planted.
Food Crops and Shortages forecasts that the winter grain area planted in
the European Community is likely to decline from last year "due to somewhat
unfavourable weather last autumn." It also says that persistent drought and
high temperatures in central and eastern Europe will negatively affect the
2001 cereal harvests. In Russia, displaced people in Chechnya and surrounding
republics continue to need food assistance.
The report estimates that wheat output in Australia will be some 4 million
tons below last year's bumper crop. Early prospects for the summer 2001 coarse
grain crops are said to be "somewhat unfavourable due to dry weather and
the final area sown is likely to be reduced."
The 33 countries facing food emergencies are:
| AFRICA (16 countries) |
Angola
Burundi
Congo, Dem. Rep.
Congo, Rep. of
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Guinea
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Rwanda
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda |
Civil strife, population displacement
Civil strife and insecurity
Civil strife, IDPs and refugees
Past civil strife
IDPs, returnees and drought
Drought, IDPs
Civil strife, population displacement
Drought
Past civil strife, shortage of inputs
Drought/cyclones
Drought in parts
Civil strife, population displacement
Drought, civil strife
Civil strife in the south, drought
Food deficits in several regions
Civil strife in parts, drought |
| ASIA (11 countries) |
|
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Cambodia
Georgia
Iraq
Jordan
Korea, DPR
Mongolia
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan |
Drought, civil strife
Drought, economic constraints
Drought, economic constraints
Floods
Drought, economic constraints
Sanctions, drought
Drought
Adverse weather, economic problems
Economic problems, harsh winter
Drought
Drought in Karakalpakstan |
| LATIN AMERICA (4 countries) |
|
Haiti
Honduras
Nicaragua
El Salvador |
Structural economic problems
Past adverse weather
Past adverse weather
Earthquakes |
| EUROPE (2 countries) |
|
Russian Fed.
F.Rep. Yugoslavia |
Civil strife in Chechnya and vulnerable groups
Vulnerable groups and refugees |
In addition, the report says five countries have unfavorable prospects for
current crops. They are Afghanistan, Armenia, Georgia, Jordan and
Tajikistan.
Foodcrops and Shortages, which details the world's crop and food situation
by country, is issued five times a year in four languages (English, French,
Spanish and Chinese), by FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System
on Food and Agriculture.
* * * * * *
For further information, please contact John Riddle, FAO Media Relations,
tel. + 39 06 5705 3259, e-mail:
john.riddle@fao.org
Foodcrops and Shortages is available on the FAO Web Site at:
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/faoinfo/economic/giews/english/fs/fstoc.htm
