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| Thursday, 3 March 2005 |
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More than 30 countries face serious food shortages ROME, Tuesday (AFP) Thirty-six countries worldwide face serious food shortages due mainly to conflicts and bad weather, and need external assistance, the Food and Agriculture Organization said in a report. Eleven others face unfavourable prospects for their current crops, the UN agency said. "The causes are varied, but civil strife and adverse weather predominate," it said. The highest number of countries facing food emergencies continues to be in Africa, where 23 countries need food assistance. The report warned that the food situation in Eritrea was of "serious concern" saying "successive years of inadequate rains have seriously undermined crop and livestock production." In Sudan, the UN agency estimated that the harvest would be below average due to conflict and drought. By contrast, the food situation in neighboring Ethiopia has improved, partly as a result of a good weather. Kenya's poor second season maize crop will exacerbate food shortages in parts of the country, while Somalia's good secondary harvest will improve food supplies in main agricultural areas, the report said. Other countries where the situation was in part critical were Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mauritania. |
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