This is the first issue in 1997 of a series of reports prepared by the FAO Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) on the food supply situation, cereal import and food aid requirements for all countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The report is designed to provide the latest analysis and information on the food situation in these countries to governments, international organizations and other institutions engaged in relief operations.
Part I focuses on the precarious food supply situation in the Great Lakes Region, particularly the fast deteriorating conditions in eastern Zaire. It also draws attention to the tightening food supplies in Kenya, Eritrea and Somalia and the continuing food difficulties in Liberia and Sierra Leone. It highlights the overall satisfactory food supply situation in southern Africa where the crop outlook is favourable and in western Africa, Ethiopia and Sudan where good harvests have been gathered.
Part II contains an assessment of crop prospects and the food supply situation by sub-region, giving the latest estimates of cereal imports and food aid requirements of all four sub-regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Part III presents the latest analysis and information on crop prospects and the food supply situation and outlook in each country. The information on food aid pledges, including triangular transactions and local purchases, and on expected arrivals, is based on data transmitted to the GIEWS as of late January 1997 by the following donors: Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, EC, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States as well as the World Food Programme. For other donors, data are based on field reports from various sources (see Tables 6 and 7).
Since conditions can change rapidly, and published information may not always represent the most up-to-date basis for action, further enquiries or corrections should be directed to Mr. Abdur Rashid, Chief, Global Information and Early Warning Service (ESCG), FAO, Rome (Telex: 610181 FAO I, Fax: 039-6-5225-4495, E-mail INTERNET: [email protected]).
