Food outlook "grim" - FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said Somalia's food outlook for 1999 and beyond is "extremely grim" due to several factors. The FAO lists failure of the Gu season, cumulative adverse weather, invasion by armyworms and inter-factional fighting. In a special alert, it says current estimates indicate that some 70,000 people have been displaced by food shortages and insecurity. "It is estimated that more than one million people face serious food shortages with over 40,000 at risk of starvation. Malnutrition is reported to be high and increasing," FAO said. With the failure of the main season [Gu], continued large- scale food assistance will be required well into next year. The agency appealed to the international community to devise ways of reaching and assisting the increasingly desperate population, despite the serious obstacles hampering food relief distributions.