Highlights
Ethiopia - Better prospect for 2004
- The 2003/2004 Meher cereal harvest is estimated at 13.05 million
MTs, which is 46% higher than the 2002/2003 season and 11% above
the last five-year average. The pastoral areas, such as Somali region,
lowland Bale in Oromya and South Omo, are however, facing a severe drought.
At country level, the estimated number of food aid beneficiaries has dropped
by 50% in 2004, compared to 2003; at regional level, the number of people
in need of food aid has sharply decreased in all regions except Gambella
and Somali regions. Nevertheless, 7.2 million people will still be in need
of food aid in 2004. Among the needy people, 5 million are considered chronically
food insecure, as a result of asset erosion due to successive bad years.
Sudan - Worsening situation in Darfur - Fighting has intensified in Darfur over the last months. Targeting of civilians, such as air attacks, killings, beatings, burning and destruction of villages, has been widely reported. Furthermore, access to the population and provision of humanitarian assistance have been repeatedly denied. About 600,000 IDPs were estimated to be displaced in greater Darfur. On the other hand, there is a better prospect for food security in southern Sudan in the months to come. The improvement of the security situation, which allowed and encouraged people to cultivate larger areas, and above average rainfalls led to a bumper harvest in October 2003. Populations are, however, chronically food insecure and only peace and long-term development will ensure a sustainable improvement of the situation.
Western Ivory Coast - Average nutrition and food security situation - Although the situation is still volatile in western Ivory Coast and people's living conditions have changed since the beginning of the crisis, it seems that the communities are able to cope and that the nutrition situation is not critical. Strengthening of coping mechanisms is, however, necessary.
Sierra Leone - Mixed nutrition situation in refugee camps - As of first January 2004, Sierra Leone hosted an estimated 70,000 Liberian refugees, of whom, 55,000 were settled in camps, 7,000 in urban centres and 7,500 at the border area. According to nutrition surveys conducted in eight camps, the nutrition situation was contrasted depending on the camps. It was average in five camps, whilst it was of concern in two camps and serious s in one camp. When compared to the prevalence of malnutrition recorded in August 2002 in six camps, the nutrition situation was better in October 2003 in all the camps, except two.
Chad - Contrasted nutrition situation among Sudanese refugees - There are an estimated 100,000 refugees from Darfur scattered in 20 locations over 600 kms along the Sudan-Chad border. The area is unsafe, with reported incursions of raiders from Sudan. Delivery of assistance to the refugees has been slow to start and refugees, settled among host populations, have been living in hardship conditions. The nutrition situation of the Sudanese refugees in Eastern Chad seems to differ depending on the location. Proper humanitarian assistance and funding are needed to strengthen livelihoods of both refugees and the host population.
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