Global harvests robust, yet 37 countries still need food aid
ROME: Global food supply conditions are robust, but access to food has been dramatically reduced in areas suffering from civil conflicts, while drought conditions are worsening food security across swathes of East Africa, according to the United Nations.
In a new edition of its Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) informs that some 37 countries require external assistance for food, 28 of them in Africa as a result of lingering effects of last year’s El Niñotriggered droughts on harvests in 2016.
Yet, while agricultural production is expected to rebound in southern Africa, protracted fighting and unrest is increasing the ranks of the displaced and hungry in other parts of the world, the report adds. Famine has been formally declared in South Sudan and the food security situation is of grave concern in northern Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen.
“This is an unprecedented situation. Never before have we been faced with four threats of famine in multiple countries simultaneously,” said FAO Assistant DirectorGeneral Kostas Stamoulis, head of the Economic and Social Development department.
“It demands swift action which should consist of immediate food assistance but also livelihood support to ensure that such situations are not repeated.”
The UN specialised body cites several examples.
In South Sudan, 100,000 people were facing famine in Leer and Mayendit Counties, part of former Unity State, while there was an “elevated risk” that similar conditions existed in two nearby counties.
Over all, about 4.9 million people across the country
This is an unprecedented situation. Never before have we been faced with four threats of famine in multiple countries simultaneously. Kostas Stamoulis , FAO Assistant Director-General
were classified as facing crisis, emergency or famine.
That number is projected to increase to 5.5 million, or almost half the country’s population, at the peak of the lean season in July.
In northern Nigeria, 8.1 million people are facing acute food insecurity conditions and require urgent life- saving response and livelihood protection. That comes despite the above- average cereal harvest in 2016 and reflects the disruption caused by conflict as well as the sharp depreciation of the Naira.
Meanwhile in Yemen, FAO reports that 17 million people or two-thirds of the population are estimated to be food insecure, while almost half of them are in need of emergency assistance, with the report noting that “the risk of famine declaration in the country is very high.”
And in Somalia, the combination of conflict, civil insecurity and drought have resulted in more than double the number of people – now estimated at 2.9 million – being severely food insecure from six months ago.
“Drought has curtailed fodder for pastoralists and the third consecutive season of poor rainfall is estimated to have reduced crop production in southern and central regions to 70 per cent below average levels, leaving food stocks depleted.”
Conflicts and civil unrest in Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Myanmar and Syria are also exacerbating food insecurity conditions for millions of people as well affecting nearby countries hosting refugees. In addition, the drought in East Africa in late 2016 has heightened food insecurity in several countries in the subregion, according to the new report.
Cereal production made quite strong gains in the world overall in 2016, with a record recovery in Central America, and larger cereal crops in Asia, Europe and North America.