YUGOSLAVIA, FED. REP. OF (SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO) (6 February)
Area planted to winter cereals, mainly wheat and barley, is similar to last year, and winter crops are reportedly in satisfactory condition. Cereal harvest in 2002 is estimated at 8.1 million tonnes, which is about 300 000 tonnes lower than the 2001 harvest. This year’s forecast harvest includes 2.1 million tonnes of wheat, 5.6 million tonnes of maize and 303 000 tonnes of barley. Aggregate cereal exports in the current season is estimated at 700 000 tonnes, including 250 000 tonnes of wheat and 450 000 tonnes of maize.
Under a Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation since July this year, WFP has been assisting on average some 134 000 refugees, 130 000 of whom are in Serbia and 4 000 in Montenegro. This operation will continue until the end of December 2003. ICRC will continue to assist the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) until the end of March 2003.