DRC still "precarious" as food outlook improves elsewhere

The food and nutritional situation of over two million internally displaced people (IDPs), particularly in northeastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and of over 330,000 refugees from neighbouring countries, "is cause for serious concern", according to the latest report from the Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS).

An estimated 64 percent of people in the eastern provinces are undernourished, and poverty nationwide is reaching "very high levels", according to GIEWS, with 16 million people - one-third of the DRC's total population - believed to be seriously food insecure. GIEWS noted that while access to government-controlled regions had improved as a result of simplification of procedures for international agencies, distribution of humanitarian assistance in rebel-held areas remained constrained by insecurity and violence.

In neighbouring Burundi, GIEWS reported that the overall food situation had improved following a satisfactory 2002 first season harvest, particularly of non-cereal crops. "This reflects a relatively better security situation in most of the country, and generally favourable weather during the growing season," GIEWS stated.

"Prices of staples in the main provincial markets have declined significantly compared to their levels a year ago," according to GIEWS, although it warned that production had been constrained by insecurity in eastern provinces and parts of Bujumbura Rural. "Heavy fighting between government forces and rebel groups in March resulted in the displacement of large numbers of people, and it is estimated that as many as 80,000 civilians have been displaced since January 2002," it said.

In Rwanda, the overall food supply situation has improved significantly as a result of a one-third increase in the 2002 first season harvests, according to GIEWS. Markets are well supplied with food staples, while food prices - at their lowest levels since 1994 - declined further with the January harvest, and have since then stabilised. "Nevertheless, despite the satisfactory food supply situation, many households remain food insecure, particularly in the provinces of Gikongoro, Butare and Gisenyi," GIEWS noted.

Elsewhere in central Africa, crop prospects are "generally favourable" in the Central African Republic and Cameroon, according to GIEWS, where aggregate cereal output is anticipated to be average or above average. Meanwhile, in the Republic of Congo, although GIEWS reported agriculture as "steadily recovering" following civil wars in 1998 and 1999, it was not yet clear what the impact would be of the current conflict in the Pool region.

GIEWS urged continued food assistance for populations in Burundi and the DRC, and encouraged donors to give priority to local purchases and triangular transactions wherever possible for their food aid programmes in sub-Saharan Africa in order to support domestic food production.

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