Development: Food emergency in 40 countries

The FAO’s latest assessment shows that 40 countries are facing food emergencies and require external assistance. The most pressing humanitarian problem remains the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan. The already precarious food supply situation may worsen if deteriorating security disrupts the main harvest due to start in the coming few weeks. The situation may deteriorate also due to negative prospects for the 2006 world cereal harvest. Exceptionally hot and dry weather is adversely affecting the wheat crops in Australia, Argentina and Brazil, while drier-than-normal weather in parts of South Asia is also raising some concern for the second 2006 crop. Some of these situations may be considered the result of climate change.