Global Highlights

• The global cereal price index increased by 8.8% on a year-on-year basis in the January-March 2013 quarter.This increase is driven by increases in real prices of maize and wheat (+8% and +13%, respectively).

Highlights

· In 2012, donors give $45 million in humanitarian aid to the Caucasus and Central Asia ($18 million in 2011)

· Drop in outgoing aid: in 2012, the region gave $1.5 million compared to $13 million in 2011

· Assistance from Azerbaijan makes up the bulk of the region’s outgoing aid in 2012

· Russia emerges as top donor to the region in 2012, while Tajikistan remains the region’s largest aid recipient

Frequent small to medium-scale emergencies raged through the region in 2012, inflicting the most damage on rural households. Support from humanitarian and development partners was often necessary to help affected people back onto their feet, learn from the disaster and better prepare for future shocks.

HIGHLIGHTS

• In July – September 2012, the region received $5.5 million in humanitarian funding

• ECHO remains the region’s largest donor

• Food security programmes in Tajikistan most funded

OVERVIEW

Natural hazards such as earthquakes, droughts, floods, wildfires, and extreme winter weather affect a range of countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia (EMCA). In addition, rapid urban growth and environmental degradation in some countries have led to overcrowding and settlement in hazard-prone areas. Protracted conflict and limited governmental disaster management capacity in many EMCA countries compound the risks associated with natural disasters.

This bulletin examines trends in staple food and fuel prices, the cost of the basic food basket, terms of trade and consumer price indices for 71 countries in the second quarter of 2012 (April to June, Q2-2012)1.

Highlights

Cereal production forecast to decline in 2012 In the Asian CIS subregion, wheat is the main cereal. Kazakhstan is the major producer and the bulk of the crop is spring sown in April and May.

Key Messages

• In 2011, agricultural production increased by 14% compared with 2010. Cereal production was respectively 35% and 24% above 2010 and 2006–2010 average levels.
• The Food Price Index increased by 12.3% in 2011 compared with 2010. Prices of bread and beef remained stable between September and December 2011.
• Cereal imports in 2011 were 2% higher than in 2010, amounting to 437.5 thousand tonnes.
• Poverty incidence increased from 27.6% in 2008 to 35.8% in 2010, after continuously improving since 1998.

This report covers the period of 01 January – June 2011.

In brief

Programme outcome:　　
The National Society programmes are aligned with the strategic aims of the Strategy 2020 to save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen recovery from disasters and crises; enable healthy and safe living; and promote social inclusion and culture of non-violence and peace. The capacity-building efforts are in line with the enabling action one to build strong National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.