FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 09/99 - ERITREA* (6 September)
Prospects for 1999 main season cereal and pulse crops to be harvested from November have improved, due to above-average and well distributed rains in July and August. Earlier, erratic and inadequate spring rains (March to May) and below- average rainfall in June affected land preparation and early sowing in parts. The Desert Locust situation remains calm, however, an armyworm outbreak affected more than 4 000 hectares, mainly in Anseba province.
Despite a favourable harvest overall in 1998, the food situation remains very tight for an estimated 550 000 people affected by the war with Ethiopia. Furthermore, the failure of the 1998/99 winter (Keremti Bahri) rains (October to March) in coastal areas and the adjoining coastal escarpments has resulted in serious shortages of grain and forage in Semenawi and Keih Bahri provinces.
Donor support is sought for an Emergency operation approved by FAO and WFP in March this year for 44 000 tonnes to provide food assistance to 268 000 people most affected by the war. At the end of August total pledges amounted to 15 600 tonnes.
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