Highlights

The security situation in many areas covered in this report has improved, and is allowing for a shift in programme focus from relief to development in some regions. This is the case in parts of Afghanistan, Angola, Liberia and Rwanda, although in some cases persistent insecurity is preventing a country-wide shift. Flooding in many countries in Eastern Africa, notably Burundi, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania, is placing many people at risk of malnutrition.

Angola As peace continues in Angola, the focus of humanitarian work is slowly shifting from emergency to developmental activities. It is expected that the number in need of emergency assistance will decrease in 1998. The nutritional situation in the country is generally stable with recent surveys showing 5% wasting.

The Great Lakes Region Insecurity continues to be widespread in Burundi with humanitarian activities frequently interrupted as a result. Recent surveys have shown levels of wasting as high as 20%, and over 4% oedema. There are shortages of food for the displaced and war affected due to flooding in Kenya and Tanzania which has led to the closure of rail lines and stretches of road used for delivery of supplies of food aid. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), food security is still poor in many parts of the country as a result of long-term degradation of infrastructure, recently exacerbated by insecurity and population displacements. Flooding in many areas has also adversely affected food production. Nevertheless, there is now only a small refugee population in the DRC. Most refugees have now returned to Rwanda where, although agricultural production has improved, the increased population has placed a strain on food security. There have been reports of declining nutritional status in a number of prefectures, particularly affecting returnees. Primary causes are thought to be food price inflation, high prevalence of diseases and malnutrition associated with the poor infant feeding practices. Insecurity is still a problem in northwest Rwanda. There remains a large number of refugees from the DRC and Burundi in Tanzania. The nutritional status of most of this population is adequate although recent floods have disrupted food deliveries to the camps.

Kenya Flooding of the Dadaab camps came at a time when the nutritional condition of the Somali refugees, though still somewhat worrying, was improving. However, the floods destroyed food stores and livestock, led to outbreaks of cholera and destroyed roads. Food had to be airlifted to the camps but inadequate funding for the air operation has led to a 50% reduction in rations.

Liberia/Sierra Leone Region The continuing peace in Liberia has allowed humanitarian agencies to increasingly direct their efforts towards repatriation, resettlement and rehabilitation. Food security assessments have been undertaken in order to determine how best to support the returnee population and the host populations. The nutritional situation in most of Liberia is stable and adequate. In contrast, the recent fighting in Sierra Leone, which culminated in the re-instatement of the President in mid-March, led to further population displacements and food insecurity in a number of locations. Anecdotal reports indicate high levels of malnutrition and shortages of medicines and shelter in areas affected by the fighting. As the country becomes accessible again, details of the nutritional situation for the affected populations will undoubtedly become clearer.

Somalia Insecurity and low crop yields continue to adversely affect food availability in many parts of the country. Flooding and resulting displacements in southern Somalia along the Juba and Shabelle rivers has also made families highly vulnerable to malnutrition and disease. In spite of airdrops of food aid, there are reports of poor and deteriorating nutritional status amongst many of those recently displaced by flooding.

Sudan Increased military activity has led to a further decline in the already sub-standard living conditions in many parts of southern Sudan. Unseasonal rains in some parts are leading to harvest reductions. Food prices have risen sharply while livestock prices have plummeted. In this 15th year of civil war, many are predicting some of the worst nutritional conditions seen in the south of the country since 1994.

Afghanistan Although the continuous civil war has led to a steady decline in the economy, in some parts of the country, particularly the south and west, reconstruction and rehabilitation work has been on-going. Food assistance is still needed and continuing in Kabul, where many remain nutritionally vulnerable. Despite some repatriation, there are still at least 2.5 million Afghani refugees in Iran and Pakistan.

Bangladesh A recent survey amongst the small number of remaining refugees from Myanmar residing in Bangladesh showed 11.5% wasting and a prevalence of 9.9% angular stomatitis. Inequitable intra-camp and intra-household food distributions are believed to be contributing to this situation. Fortified blended foods will be re-introduced as part of the ration for this population.

Adequacy of Factors Affecting Nutrition

Factor		Angola	Burundi	Rwanda	Tanzania	Dem Rep of Congo	Liberia	Sierra Leone	Somalia	Sudan	Uganda
1. Degree of accessibility to large population groups due to conflict or flooding		Ö	X	O	O	O	Ö	0	X	O	X
2. General resources
	- food (gen stocks)	Ö	X	Ö	X	O	Ö	X	?	X	X
	- non-food	Ö	X	?Ö	X	O	Ö	X	?	X	X
3. Food pipeline		Ö	Ö	Ö	Ö	Ö	?Ö	Ö	X	X	?
4. Non-food pipeline		Ö	Ö	Ö	Ö	Ö	?Ö	Ö	?X	?X	?
5. Logistics		O	X	O	X	O	O	O	X	O	X
6. Personnel*		Ö	?	?Ö	Ö	O	Ö	Ö	Ö	Ö	Ö
7. Camp factors**		Ö	X	O	Ö	O	O	?	X	O	X
8. Rations - kcals		Ö	X	O	X	O	O	X	O	O	X
	- variety/micronutrients***	Ö	X	O	X	O	O	X	O	O	X
9. Immunisation		Ö	X	Ö	Ö	O	X	X	X	X	X
10. Information		Ö	X	X	Ö	O	Ö	X	X	O	X

Ö Adequate
O Problem in some areas
X Problem
? Don't know
?Ö Don't know, but probably adequate
?X Don't know, but probably inadequate
na not applicable

* This refers to both adequate presence and training of NGOs and local staff where security allows.

** This refers to problems in camps such as registration, water/sanitation, crowding, etc.

*** Rations may be inadequate due to inaccessibility.

Note: Situations for which detailed information is available are included in this table. Some potentially critical situations are not currently included due to a lack of detailed information.