HIGHLIGHTS

Eritrea and Ethiopia: The ending of hostilities between the two countries has seen the continuation of returns to previously war affected regions by both displaced and refugees. The returns are still restricted by mines and other unexploded ordinance as well as the effects of a shattered infrastructure. The drought affected remain very food insecure as many are still struggling to recover from the drought of last year. Poor rains and the withdrawal of agencies from affected areas have also adversely affected populations in light of the continuing need for food assistance.

Somalia: The situation in Somalia remains precarious. The failure of Gu rains, particularly in southern areas, has effected much rain fed agriculture, resulting in poor crop forecasts. Opposition to the Transitional National Government (TNG) has increased the political instability, particularly in and around Mogadishu. The continued importation of Somali bank notes has increased inflation and led to a general reduction of purchasing power which will affect the poorer wealth groups including the displaced. The effects of the Gulf State’s ban on the importation of livestock continues to effect the northern regions.

Sudan: The situation in Sudan has deteriorated significantly during the first half of 2001 as a result of drought and continued insecurity, particularly in the south of the country in areas such as western Bahr-el-Ghazal. Major offensives by the SPLA and the GoS have resulted in the displacement of many thousands of people. This has left many reliant on a variety of very marginal coping mechanisms. The prevalence of malnutrition appears to be on the increase and there is urgent need for humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups.

Sierra Leone and the West Africa Region: Increased security in Sierra Leone, as a result of govern-ment and rebel adherence to the Abuja cease-fire agreement, has resulted in better access to emergency affected populations. Continued instability along the border with Guinea and in Liberia continues to re-sult in the return of Sierra Leonean refugees. There is renewed fighting in northern Liberia which has displaced many people into Guinea and Sierra Leone and within Liberia itself. Many of the returnees and new arrivals in Sierra Leone are arriving in very poor condition, having travelled through insecure areas without access to food. As a result pockets of great need continue to exist.

Great Lakes region: The continuing peace process in DRC has opened up many previously inaccessible areas of the country and revealed areas of extreme need. However, insecurity still exists, particularly in eastern regions and the needs of the affected populations remain very high. The situation in Burundi continues to be precarious as fighting escalates in areas between government troops and rebel groups re-turning from DRC. This has resulted in many people crossing the border as refugees into Tanzania.

Angola: Conflict has continued in many parts of Angola resulting in a steady displacement of population. This continues to affect access to vulnerable populations and although the situation appears stable in some areas there are pockets of acute need in places such as Camacupa and Kuito in Bie province. This is a result of both insecurity and the poor state of much of the infrastructure, particularly airstrips used for landing humanitarian supplies.

Afghanistan: The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated further as a result of ongoing drought and fighting. The poor economy and almost total failure of food crops in many areas has forced many to abandon their land and become reliant on unsustainable crisis coping mechanisms. The number of internally displaced is expected to reach one million by the end of the year. There is urgent need of a considerable humanitarian response.

Table 1
Risk Factors Affecting Nutrition in Selected Situation

Situations in the table below are classed into five categories (row 1) relating to prevalence and or risk of malnutrition (I - very high risk/prevalence, II - high risk/prevalence, III - moderate risk/prevalence, IV - not at elevated risk/prevalence, V - unknown risk/prevalence, for further explanation see inside of the back page). The prevalence/risk is indirectly affected by both the underlying causes of malnutrition, relating to food, health and care (rows 2 - 4, and also Figure 1 at back of report) and the constraints limiting humanitarian response (rows 5 - 8). These categories are summations of the causes of malnutrition and the humanitarian response, but should not be used in isolation to prescribe the necessary response.

Factor		Eritrean Refugees in Ethiopia	IDPs in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan	IDPs in Kuito, Angola	IDPs in Kinshasa, DRC	IDPs in Luuq, Somalia	IDPs in western Bahr-el-Ghazal, Sudan	IDPs in Kailahun district, Sierra Leone	IDPs from Lofa county, Liberia
1. Nutritional risk category		III	II	I	III	II	I	II	I
2. Public Health Environment (water, shelter, overcrowding, access to health services)		X	X	X	?X	X	X	X	X
3. Social & Care Environment (Social organisations and networks, Women’s role, status and rights)		?X	X	?X	?O	X	X	X	X
4. Food Security		O	X	X	O	X	X	X	X
5. Accesibilty to population			O	X		X	X	X	X
6. General resources
	- food (gen stocks)	X	?X	X	O	?O	X	X	X
	- non-food	?X	?X	X	O	?O	X	?O	X
7. Personnel*			O	?X		X	X	?O	X
8. Information			O	O	O	O	O		X

Adequate
O Mixed
X Problem
? Don’t know, but probably adequate
?X Don’t know, but probably inadequate

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