UN response to anticipated malnutrition crisis

The UN has prepared a coordinated multi-sectoral response to a malnutrition crisis it says is "likely to occur" in the country due to a poor harvest. A UN Food and Agricultural Organisation early warning system set up in collaboration with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Food Programme, the UN Children's Fund and their partners shows that the late arrival of rains in September through October 2002 "will impact yields negatively". "The situation could deteriorate further if fighting and displacement intensifies as experienced in the provinces of Ruyigi, Gitega, Buzanza, Muramvya and Bujumbura Rural," OCHA reported on Tuesday. Therefore, the UN has coordinated its approach to consolidate and reinforce its own capacity to respond. In addition, the UN said, it was encouraging and supporting the government, NGOs and civil society to respond to the possible crisis and prevent its reoccurrence. Details available under Great Lakes on www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf