Good seasonal progression in the Bi-modal and Guinean - Sudanian zones

KEY MESSAGES

• Normal to above - normal rainfall levels fell over the southwestern corner of the region (Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau), marking a timely onset of the rains in this part of West Africa .

Vienna, Austria, June 17, 2013. The Governing Board of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), meeting in its 143rd Session on June 13, has approved 17 loans and grants totaling over US$234 million to boost socio-economic development in over 44 partner countries. The majority of the public sector funding will co-finance transportation, energy and water supply and sanitation projects.

The approved public sector loans are as follows:

Burkina Faso

DAKAR, SENEGAL — As the rainy season begins in West and Central Africa, meteorological experts are warning of above average rainfall, flash floods and overflowing rivers in the western Sahel. Aid agencies say that early preparation is key to reducing the risks associated with such natural disasters, as well as building up people’s resilience to deal with the aftermath.

Experts from the African Center of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) say that rainfall in West and Central Africa could exceed 130 percent of normal precipitation this year.

1) The delayed onset of the March-May rainfall has negatively impacted ground conditions over the Belg-producing areas of northern Ethiopia. Despite an increase in rain since mid-April, the accumulated rainfall has remained below-average. Limited rain is forecast over the area during the next outlook period, likely maintaining rainfall deficits.

DAKAR, 7 June 2013 (IRIN) - Guinea’s political violence is hitting residents of the capital Conakry increasingly hard, with some families forced to flee their homes and others relocating for fear of ethnically based attacks.

President Alpha Condé has ordered an investigation into the latest violence, which followed a 23 May opposition protest over upcoming legislative elections. The government says 12 people were killed and about 100 others injured.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

• Aggregate cereal production in 2012 is estimated to have increased by 10 percent compared to 2011

• Access to food improved due to lower prices mainly following a significant recovery of the Guinean Franc

The UN's Central Emergency Response Fund dispersed US$485 million to projects in 49 countries and territories in 2012 – the highest amount since its inception.

Thirty-day rainfall surpluses continue to grow across western Ethiopia and western South Sudan

1) Poorly distributed and significantly below average seasonal rainfall has resulted in deteriorating ground conditions since January. This has negatively impacted crops and livestock throughout many parts of southern Angola and northern Namibia.