Sierra Leone, Guinea & Liberia
Food crisis through warfare in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia

afrol News, 11 April - According to a fresh report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia are slipping into a severe food supply crisis due to warfare and a large number of displaced people cut off from food production. 

According to the report, "Continued food assistance is necessary in ... Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone" thoughout this year. Cereal harvests in 2000 were generally good but in Guinea and Sierra Leone, fighting in border areas affected agricultural and marketing ctivities and caused new population displacements. Relief programmes have also been hampered, FAO reports. 

An FAO crop and food supply assessment mission to Liberia in December estimated the 2000 paddy production at 144,000 tonnes, compared to a pre-war (1988) output of 259,000 tonnes. Liberia and Sierra Leone remain heavily dependent on international food assistance despite some improvement in food production, FAO concludes. 

Sierra Leone
In Sierra Leone, civil war heavily has affected food production. A reduced rice crop has been harvested in 2000 as planted areas were significantly below the previous year's level due to a resurgence of civil strife in early May, the critical planting period. Due to insecurity, input distribution and relief operations were suspended or seriously disrupted, notably in the north. 

Fighting along the border with Guinea and Liberia intensified in late 2000, resulting in new waves of population displacement. Thousands of refugees arrived in eastern Sierra Leone, fleeing fighting in the "Parrot's Beak" region of southwestern Guinea. The returnees from Liberia are arriving into Daru and Zimmi, while those from Guinea are arriving through Kono to Kenema. Returnees also arrived by boat from Conakry.

- Reflecting a reduced crop and transport problems, the food supply situation will remain tight in 2001, FAO assesses. In addition to the internally displaced persons already registered, new ones have been registered in the south and west following the upsurge of fighting in May and October. More than 400,000 Sierra Leonean refugees remain in neighbouring West African countries, mostly in Guinea and Liberia. 

Despite the hostilities, the World Food Programme (WFP) and NGOs continue food distributions. WFP plans to distribute during 2001 more than 50,000 tonnes of food aid to an estimated 544 000 beneficiaries. The government launched a resettlement plan in Freetown, Port Loko, Kenema and Pejehun districts which have been declared safe for people to return to. Displaced "returning to areas of origin will receive a two-month resettlement ration," the UN agency assures. 

Guinea
Alhough harvests have been generally good in Guinea, the attacks on the southern border areas backed by Sierra Leonean terrorists and Liberia, together with a high number of refugees living in Guinea, creates regional food supply problems. 

- Reflecting a good harvest in 2000 and a record crop in 1999, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory and markets are generally well supplied, except in the south-east where rebel incursions from Sierra Leone have severely affected agriculture and marketing activities, FAO assesses. 

More than 400,000 refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone remain in the country, located mainly in Gueckédou, Forécariah and N'Zérékore areas. Many of these depend on food supply from UN agencies.

Liberia
In Liberia, FAO estimated the 2000 rice paddy production at 144,000 tonnes, compared with a pre-war (1988) figure of 259,000 tonnes. The area planted to rice in the year 2000 is estimated at 135,000 hectares. Small plots and poor yields would appear to be the main cause of low production per household. 

According to FAO, the lack of employment opportunities during and after the war has compelled many families to grow some rice for the first time, in order to survive. It has also caused cultivation of land which had never previously been considered for rice production, such as the coastal mangrove swamps. As a result, there are many more families in rice production than in pre-war times, albeit with smaller plots. The main constraints faced by farmers include labour shortages, shortage of rice seed, lack of any marketing organization, high levels of post-harvest losses and poor road conditions. 

FAO estimated the cereal import requirement in 2001 at 200,000 tonnes. Commercial imports are estimated at 160,000 tonnes, leaving an uncovered deficit of 40,000 tonnes to be met by food aid. WFP is seeking a total of 21,000 tonnes of cereals and pulses and 3,800 tonnes of other commodities to meet the food aid needs of about 145,000 refugees and other war affected people, as well as 140,000 children attending primary schools during the year 2001. 

In Lofa county, one of Liberia's main rice producing areas, fighting is still continuing. Periodic rebel incursions since August 1999 intensified in October and have disrupted farming and displaced thousands of people, notably in the towns of Gorlu, Ganglota and Selayae. 

Liberia closed its border with Sierra Leone with effect from 19 March and ordered the security organs to enforce the closure. Security remains precarious. 

Thousands of Guineans fleeing hostilities in their country have also sought refuge in border towns in Liberia. More than 15,000 have arrived in Bong county and northern Lofa county. WFP is distributing food aid to about 420,000 Liberian returnees. Food distribution to Sierra Leonean refugees in camps in Montserrado and Sinje areas in Grand Cape Mount County are also underway, FAO reports.

Sources: Based on FAO