Highlights

• Cereal prices have continued to rise during this quarter, in anticipation of a poor harvest. The introduction of WFP’s food voucher scheme appears to have exacerbated the price rise in a number of markets in North Darfur, including El Fasher, Seraf Omra and Kebkabiya, although this deserves further investigation.

• Seriously deteriorating food security in Malha is evident from the high millet prices and deteriorating terms of trade between cereals and livestock

• The cattle trade between South and North Darfur has resumed since the export of meat from South Darfur has been temporarily suspended. There may be distress sales of livestock in parts of North Darfur during 2012 due to poor pasture

• Although fruit and vegetable prices are following normal seasonal trends, prices overall are substantially higher in 2011 compared with 2010

• There is some improvement in the flow of trade across North Darfur as the number of checkpoints has substantially reduced, but banditry continues to be a major threat

• Opportunistic gold prospecting is continuing in Kutum and Umm Keddada localities, drawing individuals from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds and geographical areas. A high level of cooperation is noted between gold prospectors.