The number of countries facing severe food emergencies worldwide stands at 39. Serious food shortages have emerged in eastern Africa, and the food situation remains critical in southern Africa.

As of November 2002, the number of countries facing serious food difficulties throughout the world stands at 39, with 25 in Africa, 6 in Asia, 6 in Latin America and 2 in Europe.

In southern Africa, the difficult food supply situation, as a result of two poor harvests in a row, continues to tighten with dwindling food stocks and slow imports. The food situation is particularly critical in Zimbabwe where serious food shortages are affecting half of the population. Food assistance to the neediest is inadequate and

WFP has approved a new, USD 66 million, Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) in Central America to assist 2 million people affected by drought and coffee crisis

Regional Overview

1. Triggered by recurring natural disasters, food insecurity has placed rural and urban populations in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in a crisis situation. Almost 9 million people have been affected in the last five years. The situation continues

Reporting Period: 11/06 to 11/12/2002

a) Significant Events:

Due to the escalation of the humanitarian crisis in Colombia, WFP and UNHCR held a meeting aimed at working together on the areas of conflict evolution and displacements to neighboring countries and in the province of Norte de Santander.

b) Security:

Security clearances to staff have been issued to all areas.

c) Implementation:

WFP delivered 43.4 MT of food assistance to 12 WFP FFW and community kitchen projects in three provinces.

2. Ecuador

Reporting Date: 11/13/2002

Washington, DC - Adolfo Franco, the Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), today expressed concern about the food shortages in the Central American region. Franco reaffirmed the Bush Administration's commitment to help the region overcome the present food security challenges, while also focusing on helping the countries stabilize their economies. "It is our intention to provide short-term

This report includes:
(A) Global Funding Overview

(B) West Africa Region: (1) Côte d'Ivoire

(C) Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea, (2) Indonesia

(D) Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Zambia, (3) Zimbabwe, (4) Lesotho, (5) Malawi, (6) Mozambique, (7) Swaziland, (8) Angola, (9) Namibia

(E) Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Sudan, (3) Uganda, (4) Burundi

(F) Eastern Europe Region: (1) North Caucasus

(G) Latin America and Caribbean Region

(H) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan

WFP has approved a new US$66 million operation in Central America to assist an additional 690,000 people who are affected by droughts, the region-wide coffee crisis and other crises.

WFP currently assists 1.575 million people in Central America and has been responding recently to nutritional crises in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua with emergency programs for acutely malnourished children and their families.

If fully funded, the new WFP operation will assist 240,000 people in Honduras; 200,000 in Guatemala; 150,000 in