HIGHLIGHTS
Angola. Government offensives in the Central Highlands have resulted in new displacement and subsequent humanitarian needs. Very high prevalences of malnutrition have once more been re-ported in Malange among children and also adults, and thus the situation has not improved since the last survey in June and affects both IDPs and the resident population.
Great Lakes There has been an escalation of the crisis in Burundi during the reporting period and the nutritional situation of the newly displaced population is critical. Humanitarian agencies cannot access very large areas of the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) where the nutritional situation is severe. Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in improved access to war affected populations, but very high prevalences of malnutrition have been recorded in some areas.
Ethiopia and Eritrea. A recent food security assessment reported that the IDPs in Tigray are totally almost wholly dependent on the general ration, having no other significant reliable source of food. Relief programmes for the IDPs have been curtailed by inadequate funding. Drought in other areas of Ethiopia is likely to have a serious effect on the main harvest.
Kenya. Food security assessments in the refugee camps in eastern and western Kenya have recommended that refugees must be provided with a full general ration as opportunities for self-reliance are extremely limited for the majority of the population.
Somalia. In the southern and central zones of Somalia drought conditions have exacerbated the already poor food security, and high prevalences of malnutrition have been reported in the major cities of Bay region. The situation in other zones in Somalia is less critical.
Sudan. The annual OLS needs assessment reports that the food security situation in Southern Sudan continues to improve; it is estimated that 30% of the population will require food assistance in 2000, which is considerably less than the previous two years. Instability in parts of Western Upper Nile, Unity State and Eastern Equatoria has created localised food insecurity.
There is still no new nutritional information about the 2 million IDPs in Khartoum.
Balkans region. The nutritional situation is under control and there have been no reports of elevated prevalences of malnutrition in the region. Serb and Roma minorities in Kosovo are considered more vulnerable than others. Little is known about the nutritional situation of IDPs in Serbia. Winter will affect populations throughout the region, putting those without adequate shelter and access to fuel at greater nutritional risk.
East and West Timor. Displaced people continue to return to East Timor, where there are no reports of a nutritional crisis. High mortality rates have been recorded in some of the camps in West Timor.
Other areas. Situations which have not changed significantly since the last report, or have improved include: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Conakry, Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Bangladesh, Nepal, Rwanda.
Table 1
Risk Factors Affecting Nutrition in Selected Situation
Situations in the table below are classed into five categories relating to prevalence and or risk of malnutrition (row 1 of Table 2, for explanation see inside of the back page). The prevalence/risk is indirectly affected by both the underlying causes of malnutrition, relating to food, health and care (rows 2 - 4, and also Figure 1 at back of report) and the constraints limiting humanitarian response (rows 5 - 8). These categories are summations of the causes of malnutrition and the humanitarian response, but should not be used in isolation to prescribe the necessary response.
* This refers to both adequate presence and training of NGOs and local staff where security allows
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