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Famine conditions reported in parts of Sudan, although harvest prospects are favourable elsewhere in East Africa More than 1.2 million people in Sudan are facing famine conditions, with widespread reports of children dying from starvation in the Bahr-El-Ghazal region, according to a special report released by FAO. However, the report calls Sub-Saharan Africa's current food outlook "mixed," noting favorable harvest prospects for much of eastern Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania. The food situation is precarious throughout southern Sudan, which has been affected by continuing strife and a poor 1997 harvest. According to the recently released Food supply situation and crop prospects in sub-Saharan Africa: "Acute food shortages and severe malnutrition are on the rise despite stepped-up food aid distributions. Famine conditions have emerged in parts, particularly in Bahr-El-Gazal intensified fighting has resulted in fresh waves of population displacements. Nutrition surveys also show that the rate of severe malnutrition among children has increased up to 78 percent in some locations (Ajiep). In the worst affected states of Bahr-El-Ghazal, Eastern Equator, Western Upper Nile and Jonglei, the number of people facing famine conditions is estimated at 1.2 million." Go to complete press release 25 August1998 Related links Food supply situation and crop prospects in sub-Saharan Africa, August 1998 GIEWS Special Reports and Alerts GIEWS homepage Global Watch archive    FAO Home page   Search our site  Comments?: Webmaster@fao.org ©FAO, 1998