BBC News Online: World: Africa

African famine alert

In its annual report, the FAO cites civil war, refugee crises, drought and disease as major causes of food problems.

Angola, Burundi, Congo Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda are all in dire need, says the agency.

(Click here to see a map of the region)

Burkina Faso, Gambia, Niger, Senegal and Zambia, which were on the agency's 1998 list of 18 emergency-hit states, were missing this year, replaced by Congo Republic, Kenya and Tanzania.

In east Africa, the food supply has deteriorated, says the report which names Somalia as particularly grim because of bad weather, the long-running civil war and uncontrolled crop pests and diseases.

It says close to half a million people there are at risk of starvation.

In Ethiopia, five million people are facing a shortage due to drought.

Angolan war

In southern Africa, the report highlights the devastation to crops caused by the thousands of Angolans who have been forced to flee the civil war.

But the FAO reports on one bright spot - west Africa, where crop prospects this year are favourable, notably in sub-Saharan Africa.

Southern Sudan enjoyed favourable harvest conditions but persistent civil conflict meant the food situation continued to be difficult.

Conflict was also taking its toll in the Great Lakes region. The food supply situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo remained precarious thanks to insecurity and migration, while renewed fighting had worsened food shortages.

(click here to return)

Relevant Stories

Sudan - one year after the famine (14 Jul 99 | Africa)
Hunger fear for Horn of Africa (22 Jun 99 | Africa)
Angola's long war (27 Jan 99 | Angola)
Sudan's deadly hunger (09 Aug 99 | Africa)

Internet Links

Food and Agriculture Organisation
Ethiopian Government
Eritrean Home Page
Sudan News

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

In this section

Dam builders charged in bribery scandal
Burundi camps 'too dire' to help
Sudan power struggle denied
Animal airlift planned for Congo
Spy allegations bug South Africa
Senate leader's dismissal 'a good omen'
Tatchell calls for rights probe into Mugabe
Zimbabwe constitution: Just a bit of paper?
South African gays take centre stage
Nigeria's ruling party's convention
UN to return to Burundi
Bissau military hold fire
Nile basin agreement on water cooperation
Congo Brazzaville defends peace initiative
African Media Watch
Liberia names new army chief