Results of latest assessment awaited

Meanwhile, USAID’s Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) said in its October regional report that improved crop harvests in recent seasons and better food availability had lessened the need for food assistance in parts of Rwanda. However, it estimated that nearly 330,000 people in the Kagera Valley may need additional food aid if this agricultural season fails. A WFP spokesperson told IRIN on Tuesday that an inter-agency rapid assessment mission was fielded to parts of the country late last week to look into the current drought and vulnerability situation, and the team’s findings were awaited. WFP had over the past couple of weeks distributed food aid to some 20,000 vulnerable families in Umutara, Kibungo and Gikongoro, the spokesperson added.