Dozens of countries face serious food shortages: UN

Thirty-five countries now face serious food shortages, including two dozen in Africa, according to a report released today by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

The May issue of 'Foodcrops and Shortages', a publication of the Global Information and Early Warning System, has blamed the situation largely on civil conflict and adverse weather, particularly drought. It also noted that in many of the affected countries, the HIV/AIDS pandemic was a "major contributing factor".

In western Sudan, civil conflict which has displaced over one million people has lead to a grave humanitarian crisis, the agency warned.

Desert locusts remain a serious threat to crops in northern and western Africa, where control operations are hampered by a lack of resources, according to the report.

In southern Africa, delayed, inadequate and erratic rains caused flood damage and left many people in need of emergency food aid to survive. Zimbabwe could face acute food shortages as early estimates of 2004 food production indicate a potential deficit of up to one million tonnes of cereals.

The report also warned that a "serious humanitarian crisis" continues in North Korea because of chronic food shortages. Donations have still left 600,000 core beneficiaries without their full rations in April, and new pledges are urgently needed to cover needs over the next six months.

According to the report, Sri Lanka has been seriously affected by drought with rice production falling 18% in 2004. Thousands of families are in need of food assistance there.

Food assistance continues to be delivered in several Central American countries to rural families affected by a depressed coffee sector, the study found.

(gmcg)