FAO fears severe food shortages in 17 African nations

The number of sub-Saharan African countries on the FAO's exceptional food emergency list has risen to 17 since the end of 1998, according to the Organization's latest report this week on the Food Supply Situation and Crop Prospects in sub-Saharan Africa.

"War and civil strife remain the principal enemies to food security for millions of men, women and children, with adverse weather conditions aggravating the situation in some areas," the report said.

The countries listed were: Angola, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

In West Africa, the report said the food outlook for 1999 was "generally favourable", particularly in the Sahel countries, thanks to above-average and record harvests. "Several countries have cereal surpluses available for donor purchases for transfer to deficit areas within the countries themselves, or for triangular transactions," according to the report.

But it added: "Despite the dire situations in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, cereal import requirements for the sub-region in 1998/99 are forecast to be lower than in 1997/98, as a result of good harvests in western and parts of eastern Africa. Similarly, food aid requirements are forecast to be lower."

It said the food outlook in war-torn Angola was "extremely bleak".