Recent developments have led to a sudden influx of hundreds of thousands of Rwandan refugees from neighbouring countries. These returnees will face difficult living conditions in the months ahead, with bleak prospects for adequate food supplies and other basic necessities. The additional upsurge in food needs will undoubtedly strain the already fragile and unstable food supply situation in the country, which has persisted since the outbreak of civil strife in April 1994. In view of the need for additional food, an FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited Rwanda in December, to assess prospects for the 1997 season A food crops, to evaluate the food and nutritional status of the population and to estimate cereal import requirements, including food aid, for the first half of next year. The Mission assessed that there had been a significant increase in area planted under season A crops this year compared to last. In several prefectures, local authorities had begun allocating land belonging to absentee farmers to returnees from the 1959 exodus, or had rented land to relatives and neighbours of owners. In general, therefore, it is estimated that less than 10 percent of total arable land was left uncultivated this season. Rains during season A (which started in September), have been irregular with notable deficiencies in central and southern prefectures and normal to excessive precipitation in the rest of the country. Dry conditions substantially lowered crop production in Gikongoro, Gitarama and parts of Butare and Kigali rural prefectures, whilst abundant rainfall elsewhere reduced prospective yields of beans, though it favoured cereals, roots and tubers. The output of bananas and plantains was also affected by localized losses due to heavy winds in important growing areas. Overall, production of season A cereals, root and tubers is estimated to be 23 percent above last year, while that of bananas and plantains is expected to increase slightly. However, the output of beans dropped 12 percent below last year. Despite an overall improvement, food production from the 1997 season A remains below the pre-civil strife average, due to lower cropped areas, low yields of pulses this season and crop losses in the prefectures affected by dry weather. The reduction in bean production, the main first season crop, coupled with a sharp increase in demand from returning refugees in November/December has seriously aggravated the food situation in the country. Bean prices have risen sharply and are considerably higher than prevailing prices last year. The nutritional situation gives cause for concern in some areas of the country; it is likely to be aggravated with anticipated reduced per caput food supplies in 1997. Food shortages in Gikongoro and Butare prefectures may also lead to an increased incidence of malnutrition in these areas. Taking into account an estimate of 560 000 returnees from Zaire in November 1996, the expected return of 400 000 people from Tanzania by the end of the year and of some 100 000 additional returnees in 1997, the Mission projected a population of 7.685 million people for the first half of 1997. It is estimated that this number of people would require a minimum of 145 000 tons of cereals, 152 000 tons of pulses, 781 000 tons of roots and tubers and 1 600 000 tons of bananas/plantains. Taking into consideration the expected production and stocks, this leaves a deficit for the first six months of 1997 of 30 000 tons of cereals, 45 000 tons of pulses, 124 000 tons of roots and tubers and 522 000 tons of bananas/plantains. In cereal equivalent terms, the total deficit is estimated at 141 000 tons. As only a part of this requirement can be met through commercial imports the country will need substantial food assistance in 1997. Food aid requirements for the first half of the year are estimated at 81 000 tons of cereals and 33 000 of pulses, to cover needs of 2.571 million people, or one-third of the projected population. The number of beneficiaries includes recent returnees who were not engaged in farming during the 1997 A season, previous returnees who will have to leave farm areas they are presently occupying, and vulnerable groups including widows, elderly people living alone and orphans. There is also an urgent need to provide recent returnees with sweet potato cuttings, vegetable seeds and agricultural tools, to enable them to engage in agriculture and harvest crops by March/April next year, before the full harvest of the next season in June. In preparation for the 1997 B season, there is need for sorghum and bean seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.