- Heavy rains in late July and early August, which caused severe floods in southern Chad, have affected 30,000 people, a third of whom lost their homes and possessions, media alert said.
According to report issued today, availability of food products on market is difficult due to rains, and food reserves from cereal crops and cash crops have already largely been exhausted.
"Despite three consecutive surplus cereal harvests, rise in cereal prices on international markets has had an impact on domestic prices, with steady increases following last harvest of December 2007," alert says.
It states that most likely, food security scenario from October to December 2008 could be characterised by average to below average cereal harvests compared to last three years.
This according to report, could translate into relatively high prices, even in immediate post-harvest period, with a tendency towards above average prices in following months.
"In conflict-prone zones of East (Dar Sila and Dar Tama), structurally deficit regions (Kanem and Batha West) and Tibesti, which depends almost exclusive on overseas markets (in Libya and Niger) for its food needs, a proportion of households, about 700,000 people will face moderate levels of food insecurity," report says.
It however further shows that elsewhere, most households will be food secure following harvests.
In worst-case scenario, it notes that cereal harvests will be poor due to a bad distribution of rains and localised flooding.
"Anticipation of a weak cereal supply to markets in post-harvest period could lead to a surge in prices before harvest, at peak of hunger period," it says.
It adds that political lack of consensus between rebels and Chadian government or between latter and government of Sudan could trigger new confrontations in east.
Alert further shows that this would lead to increased civil insecurity and new displacements of people and disrupt commercial exchanges and provisioning of emergency humanitarian services for refugees and displaced persons.
"This scenario could result in high to extreme levels of food insecurity for a proportion of households (about 700,000 people) in affected areas, including Tibesti, structurally deficit areas (Western Kanem and Batha), and conflict-prone areas (Dar Sila and Dar Tama)," it concludes.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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