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Africa: Food Shortages
Africa: Food Shortages
Date distributed (ymd): 010116
Document reposted by APIC
+++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: Continent-Wide
Issue Areas: +security/peace+ +economy/development+
Summary Contents:
This posting contains a December press release from the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) with the latest data on food
shortages in sub-Saharan Africa. Some 28 million people face
severe food shortages, some 20 million of them in eastern Africa,
as a result both of drought and war. Other areas with severe
shortages include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and
Sierra Leone.
On January 8 the UN's World Food Program released a new 'World
Hunger Map' - available free with a request form at WPF website
(http://www.wfp.org). The data shown on the map indicates one-third
of sub-Saharan Africa's population as undernourished, as compared
with 17 percent in Asia, and 11 percent in Latin America and the
Caribbean.
Neither the FAO report nor the World Food Program report received
more than perfunctory news coverage. Nor have the particular
African crises most responsible for the numbers. This pattern,
which extends beyond the particular issue of hunger, was the
subject of an article in the New York Times
(http://www.nytimes.com) week in review for January 14, 2001.
Journalist Donald G. McNeil, Jr., now covering eastern Europe after
four years in Africa, entitled his article 'The World Comforts the
Forgotten (Some More Forgotten Than Others).' Several brief quotes
from his article are included at the end of this posting.
+++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Food and Agriculture Organization
(http://www.fao.org)
Press Release 00/68
AT YEAR'S END, SOME 28 MILLION PEOPLE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA FACE
SEVERE FOOD SHORTAGES MOSTLY BECAUSE OF DROUGHT AND CIVIL STRIFE
Rome, 21 December 2000 - Some 28 million people in sub-Saharan
Africa are facing severe food shortages as serious food supply
problems persist in a number of countries, mainly because of
prolonged drought and civil strife, according to a report released
today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The
situation is most critical in eastern Africa, where 20 million
people face serious food shortages that will require continued food
aid well into 2001.
The report, Food Supply Situation and Crop Prospects in Sub-Saharan
Africa, says that the food situation in eastern Africa remains the
most precarious in the region due to the lingering effects of
drought and/or civil strife. It is particularly serious in Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan, where large cereal imports, mostly as
food aid, are needed to stave off starvation. The report says that
so far, timely and generous donor response has averted massive
starvation, but it adds, the food crisis in the sub-region is far
from over.
Rainfall for the current secondary cropping season has been
reported in most of the drought-affected areas in Ethiopia and
Somalia and, to a lesser extent, in the worst affected areas in
Kenya. Current forecasts indicate further improvement in rainfall
in Ethiopia and Somalia for October-December 2000. However, the
report says, significant parts of Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania and
Djibouti are forecast to receive lower than average rainfall until
year-end.
The report says the food situation in Eritrea "gives cause for
serious concern," with some 1.5 million people displaced by war and
nearly 340,000 more affected by the drought. Despite favourable
rains in September and October in some regions of the country,
harvest prospects for main season cereal and pulse crops in 2000
are bleak, mostly because hundreds of thousands of farmers have
been displaced by the war with neighbouring Ethiopia. The country's
main grain producing areas, which normally supply more than 75
percent of Eritrea's cereal production, have been at the centre of
the recent clashes and may have little or no harvest in 2000.
In contrast, the report says good rains in several areas of
Ethiopia during September and October have helped maturing crops in
important cereal producing areas of the country. But, cereal
production in eastern and southern parts has been affected by
continued drought conditions. The 2000 secondary "Belg" crop,
harvested in June, had also failed due to drought.
According to the report: "The overall food supply situation remains
highly precarious with an estimated 10.2 million people depending
on food assistance."
In Kenya, FAO says prospects for the 2000/01 "short rains" cereal
crops in some areas are uncertain despite some recent good rains.
The main season harvest, which normally accounts for 80 percent of
total annual food production, has largely failed due to a severe
drought. As a result, the country will need to import an estimated
1.4 million tonnes of cereals in 2000/01 marketing year
(October-September) to maintain normal consumption requirements.
The report also says, "the severe scarcity of water and pasture has
resulted in the loss of large numbers of livestock, mainly in the
northern and eastern parts of the country," where "nearly 3.3
million people, mostly pastoralists, need emergency food
assistance. With limited foreign exchange resources, the country
needs substantial international assistance to cope with the
emergency."
Somalia's recently harvest of main season ("Gu") crops is
satisfactory, according to the report. The season's cereal
production, estimated at 212,000 tonnes, is about 22 percent above
the post-war (1993-1999) average. Improved rainfall and better
security conditions have also encouraged some households to return
to their farms. However, poor harvests are anticipated in some
areas due to erratic and insufficient rains.
Despite some improvement in the overall food supply situation in
parts of southern Somalia, FAO says that serious malnutrition rates
are increasingly reported, reflecting diminished livelihoods due to
a succession of droughts and longer-term effects of years of
insecurity and lack of investment in the economy. Elsewhere, in
north-western Somalia the food situation is precarious in some
agro-pastoral areas. With traditional coping mechanisms virtually
exhausted, migration of people and livestock to Ethiopia and other
regions is reported.
In Sudan, the report says "erratic rains have severely affected the
2000 crop production." It adds: "Despite the anticipated good
harvest in the irrigated sector, mainly due to an extensive
rehabilitation, the rainfed sector, which accounts for the bulk of
cereal production, has been seriously affected. Serious food
shortages have already emerged in a number of districts, with food
prices more than double the average prices for the time of the
year."
Tanzania's 2000 cereal crop, mainly maize, is estimated at about
3.5 million tonnes, nearly 20 percent below the average over the
previous five years. The decline is attributed to drought
conditions in several parts of the country. As a result, the cereal
import requirement is currently forecast at 690,000 tonnes.
However, the report says, "the overall food supply situation has
improved due to large maize imports which have led to marked
declines in food prices. Despite reduced pasture, livestock
conditions are reported to be satisfactory."
In Uganda, prospects for the 2000 second season food crops, to be
harvested from next January, have improved with recent good rains.
The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. However, the
situation remains precarious in the north-east, mainly due to last
season's poor harvest and loss of cattle due to raids. Overall,
food assistance is required for an estimated 1.2 million people
affected by adverse weather and civil unrest.
In the Great Lakes region, the FAO report describes the
humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo as
"grim," with as many as 2 million internally displaced persons cut
off from humanitarian agencies because of fighting and general
insecurity throughout the country.
Rwanda had exceptional dry weather from mid-May to mid-October,
particularly in southern and eastern parts, which the report says
has resulted in severe yield reductions of main staples as well as
other crops. Livestock losses due to poor conditions of pastures
and scarcity of water sources have also been reported, mainly in
the Umutara Prefecture, where losses of bovines are estimated at
one-quarter of the total population. Severe food difficulties are
being experienced in these areas with prices of basic food
increasing sharply from September, while those of livestock have
declined substantially reflecting distress selling. In the Umutara
Prefecture, many people have migrated to neighbouring Tanzania or
other prefectures. A recent local mission of the Government and
international agencies, estimated that 267,000 people, or 22
percent of the population in the affected areas, are in need of
food aid until end-January 2001. There is also need of support for
agricultural rehabilitation to allow the affected population to
restore their production capacity. The assistance should focus on
the distribution of bean seeds and cassava cuttings, restocking of
animals and distribution of veterinary drugs. The Government has
appealed for international assistance for food aid and agricultural
rehabilitation assistance.
In Burundi, the report says that the food supply is very tight
following a succession of reduced harvests. The situation has been
aggravated by over five months without precipitation, from late
April to mid-October. Abundant rains in October provided relief to
the drought situation but were late to avoid yield reductions of
perennial crops and declines in the area planted to the 2001 first
cereal and pulse crops, to be harvested from January. Serious seed
shortages will also negatively affect plantings.
According to the report, Angola continues to suffer from fighting
between Government and rebel forces, particularly in northern parts
of the country, which has resulted in fresh waves of internally
displaced people and refugees to neighbouring countries. The number
of internally displaced, already estimated at 2.5 million at the
end of June, is on the increase. The movement of population has
coincided with the planting of the 2000/01 cereal crops and despite
generally adequate rains since the beginning of the season in
October, large numbers of farmers have abandoned their farms in
search of safe-havens. As a result, production of foodcrops is
likely to be reduced for the third consecutive year, aggravating
the precarious food supply situation. The country will, therefore,
continue to rely heavily on food assistance to meet its food needs.
Elsewhere in southern Africa, the report says Zimbabwe's overall
food supply position is expected to remain satisfactory following
a good 2000 maize harvest. However, continuous devaluation of the
national currency, fuel and power shortages, high inflation and
increasing unemployment are undermining access to food of large
numbers of urban population. Sharp increases in the prices of basic
foods in the past month, including bread, maize meal, sugar and
cooking oil, particularly in Harare, have been reported.
Despite the severe floods in southern and central areas of
Mozambique, FAO reports that a good 2000 cereal crop, mainly maize,
was obtained. As a result, the food supply situation remains
satisfactory. Prices remain stable and are below their level of a
year earlier. In provinces affected by the floods, the food supply
situation improved with a good harvest of the secondary season
crop, the rehabilitation of roads, and food aid distributions.
However, an estimated 172,000 food insecure people, including those
most affected by the flood damage, would require food aid until the
next harvest.
In South Africa, the report says heavy rains in late November in
the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province resulted in floods and the
displacement of thousands of people. The flooding disrupted
agricultural activities. However, according to the report, the
overall food supply situation is satisfactory reflecting the 2000
bumper maize crop. Although early prospects for the 2001 maize are
poor due to anticipated reduced plantings, large carryover stocks
should guarantee adequate supplies in marketing year 2000/01
(May/April).
Elsewhere in southern Africa, the report says the overall food
supply situation is satisfactory reflecting this year's bumper
cereal harvest, in spite of severe floods in parts. Outputs
increased substantially in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia
and Botswana, while in Malawi remained at the same record level of
last year.
Other problem areas in Sub-Saharan Africa include Sierra Leone,
where a reduced harvest is anticipated as planted areas are likely
to be significantly below last year's level due to a resurgence of
civil strife in early May, during the critical planting period. Due
to insecurity, input distribution and relief operations were
suspended or seriously disrupted, notably in the north. With the
rainy season, the food supply situation deteriorated as many areas
were inaccessible due to transport problems. In addition to the
internally displaced persons already registered, more have been
registered in the south and the west following the upsurge of
fighting in May and more recently in October. About half a million
persons had been displaced and are being hosted by local
communities in government controlled areas, while it is estimated
that 1 million persons have been affected by the war in rebel
controlled areas. More than 400 000 Sierra Leonean refugees remain
in neighbouring West African countries, mostly in Guinea and
Liberia
The FAO report says that cereal import requirements in the
countries of sub-Saharan Africa in 2000/01 are expected to increase
mainly as a result of reduced harvests in some countries and
increased food aid needs in eastern Africa
It says, "The food situation in eastern Africa remains precarious
and needs continued assistance to avert further hardship and loss
of life. Persistent civil war and insecurity in parts of the Great
Lakes region continue to cause massive displacement of population,
while widespread insecurity in Angola would further aggravate the
already precarious food situation in the country. Against this
background, the attention of the international community is drawn
to the following priority areas requiring action:
"First, continued and adequate food assistance is needed throughout
2001 for the affected populations in eastern Africa, particularly
in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya.
"Second, the millions of internally displaced persons in countries
affected by past or ongoing civil wars would require food
assistance until their return and reintegration into their
communities.
"Third, with current indications pointing to the emergence of food
shortages in many parts of Sudan, contingency planning for timely
food assistance to affected populations will be necessary.
"Fourth, further support for the rehabilitation of the agriculture
sector will be needed in countries ravaged by adverse weather
and/or civil strife."
The "FOOD SUPPLY SITUATION AND CROP PROSPECTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
is available for collection at FAO Headquarters in Rome. For a copy
please telephone 06 5705 3625.
For further Information:
John Riddle - (39) 06 57053259 or
Media Relations Office at (39) 06 57 05 3625
E-mail - john.riddle@fao.org
The full report is available on the FAO Web site at:
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/faoinfo/economic/giews/english/giewse.htm
The New York Times, January 14, 2001
The World Comforts the Forgotten
(Some More Forgotten Than Others)
By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
[quotes extracted from full article at http://www.nytimes.com)
It was just as the car crested the hill above Kosovo's capital that
I realized that the president of Zambia was right. ...
But what really jumped out of the landscape was something else -
vast fields of snow white Toyota 4-by-4's. ...in the third world,
the United Nations icon is the white Toyota Land Cruiser with the
spring-mounted radio mast.
Kosovo - which I saw within months of having spent four years in
Africa - was clearly a higher order of aid recipient. In a
province the size of Connecticut, there were literally thousands
of white 4x4's with the logos of the United Nations, the Red
Cross, Oxfam, Goal, Catholic Relief Services and so on.
What President Frederick Chiluba of Zambia charges is that the
world - despite having an African as secretary general of the
United Nations and despite poverty being concentrated on
dark-skinned continents - runs its aid programs to soothe the
white, Eurocentric nerves of the rich countries that pay for them.
His chief evidence is that the United Nations was spending $1.50
per refugee in the former Yugoslavia and 11 cents per refugee from
the war in Congo, many of whom are inside his borders. ...
... when it comes to attracting attention, white-skinned
suffering just seems to have more bite than brown-skinned
suffering. ..
A few weeks ago I was researching an article about Romanian
orphanages and blundered into a better story: Many of the thousands
of children who were infected with the virus that causes AIDS
during the Ceausescu regime are now dying because they cannot get
anti-retroviral cocktails. ...
And I immediately had an unworthy thought: Oh boy. After years of
covering AIDS in Africa, where millions of children haven't a
prayer of getting the same drugs - not to mention the children
dying of curable things like sleeping sickness or malaria - I
finally get to write about white kids with AIDS. Now we'll see
what happens.
And it did. Offers to help buy drugs for those poor white children
have poured in. ...
I don't find anything to criticize in the kind hearts of such
people who want to help the Europeans. Still, it leaves me sad.
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the
Africa Policy Information Center (APIC). APIC provides
accessible information and analysis in order to promote U.S.
and international policies toward Africa that advance economic,
political and social justice and the full spectrum of human rights.
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