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

The Sovereign visited Settat to get informed on the situation of citizens following the recent floods.

Floods struck recently the center and the east of Morocco, crushing buildings, sweeping away trucks. Some 63 people were killed in the floods, according to the latest death toll made public Friday by Moroccan Communication Minister, Nabil Benabdallah. Twenty-six other people were said to be missing.

Dix sept autres personnes ont été blessées dans ces inondations consécutives aux pluies diluviennes qui se sont abattues le week-end dernier sur ces régions, a ajouté M. Benabdellah lors d'une conférence de presse, donnée à Rabat aux côtés des ministres de la Santé,

Jettou, who was answering questions by heads of parliamentary groups and union's representatives on the government's program said that Karkouz Dam, which will require 230 million dirhams budget (about US$ 23 million), will help pool 30 million cubic meters of El Maleh river.

The works will be undertaken by Casablanca

"Some 24 rural houses collapsed totally and 1,334 other housing units suffered cracks," he told reporters.

Unusually heavy rainfall of the previous two weeks caused rivers to overflow in the Gharb and Chaouia, two rich farming areas in western Morocco.

Recent heavy rains also caused a fire which broke out on Monday at Morocco's largest oil refinery, operated by

A Son arrivée au siège de la Wilaya de la région Chaouiya Ourdigha, le Souverain a été salué par Mme Zoulikha Nasri, Conseiller de SM le Roi et membre du conseil d'administration de la Fondation Mohammed V pour la Solidarité, le gouverneur par intérim de la province de Settat, des membres du Conseil d'administration de la Fondation

Sergei Shoigu, head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, arrived in the Stavropol Territory in southern Russia on Friday to study the situation in the areas that have suffered from the floods. The Stavropol emergencies commission reported that the head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry intends, in particular, to evaluate on the spot the communal and housing economy's readiness for the winter season in the settlements that were hit by the natural calamity, to check how the tasks in restoring the housing he had set during his previous visit were carried out.

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2002/0228
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Morocco - Floods
28 November 2002

Situation

1. Unusual heavy rainfalls on Sunday and Monday 25 November 2002 caused floods in western and central Morocco that left at least 37 deaths. 10 people are still reported missing.

Cité par un communiqué du CRM, le Président de l'Union a souligné lors d'une conversation téléphonique avec les responsables du CRM que la Fédération est prête à étudier les besoins des victimes, dans le cadre de la solidarité entre ses membres.