FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.3 - December 2005 p.1

INTRODUCTION

This is the third and final issue for 2005 of this report prepared by the FAO Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) on the food supply situation and 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 humanitarian operations.

In this introductory part, countries in the subregion facing serious overall food shortages or other causes of food insecurity (e.g. generalized lack of access, severe localized food insecurity) are listed. This is followed by the Highlights of the report.

Part I provides a country-by-country review of the food supply situation by subregion, as well as current crop prospects. The accompanying tables (Tables 1- 6) provide data on production, cereal import requirements and food aid needs. The information on food aid pledges, triangular transactions and local purchases is based on data transmitted to GIEWS as of mid-November 2005 by the World Food Programme.

Part II provides country cereal balance sheets (CCBS), highlighting cereal import and food aid requirements of individual countries, as well as other important data.