SWAZILAND (13 February)
In Swaziland, the corridor extending from the Lavumisa border post with South Africa to the southeast is experiencing a severe drought this year, although early-February rains brought some temporary relief from the prolonged dryness. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is exacerbating the already fragile food security situation of the vulnerable population. With a self-sufficiency rate for cereals of only 36 percent in 2003, food security is mostly dependent on the purchasing power of the population. The FAO/WFP Mission of April/May 2003 estimated that 217 000 people would face food shortages and would need food assistance equivalent to 24 000 tonnes of cereals as two-thirds of the population live below the poverty line. FAO and WFP are currently (8-26 February 2004) undertaking a mid-season rapid assessment mission of the current agricultural season.