Seasonably dry weather throughout January favored the completion of harvests, including late-maturing crops. While good rains in agricultural areas have resulted in a near-record national production, Ethiopia's pastoral areas in the east and southeast are experiencing a drought. The short rainy season there (mid-September to November) was much below average and in some areas was a near failure. As a result, the current dry season is significantly longer than usual.
Pastoralists are the most vulnerable population due to limited availability of water and pasture for their livestock.

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)

Background

Sierra Leone has been embroiled in civil war for over eight years. Its elected President, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, was restored to power in March 1998 following a coup and a year of rule by a military junta. Since then, ex-junta soldiers joined forces with a rebel movement against the Kabbah government, which is backed by the Nigerian-led West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG. In late December 1998, rebels

(Cites U.S. special relationship with Central America) (2590)

WASHINGTON -- Given the special relationship that exists between the United States and Central America, this country "could do no less than provide immediate and extensive assistance" to the victims of Hurricane Mitch, says Peter Romero, acting assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

Testifying February 24 before a House subcommittee, Romero said that helping the people of Central America rebuild from the damage caused by Mitch "is the right thing to do. But helping

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR) OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)

Current Humanitarian Situation

The situation in Kosovo over the last week has been relatively calm. However, a spate of violence in Pristina two weeks ago heightened tensions for residents as well as the international community operating out of Kosovo's capital. Humanitarian agencies continue to await the results of the Rambouillet talks for indication of its effects on humanitarian efforts.

Displacements: UNHCR estimates

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)

Background:

Sierra Leone has been embroiled in civil war for over eight years. Its elected President, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, was restored to power in March 1998 following a coup and a year of rule by a military junta. Since then, ex-junta soldiers joined forces with a rebel movement against the Kabbah government, which is backed by the Nigerian-led West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG. In late

U.S. Agency for International Development
Bureau for Humanitarian Response (BHR)
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)

Colombia - Earthquake

Fact Sheet #5, Fiscal Year 1999

Background:

On January 25, 1999 at 1:19 p.m. EST, the epicenter of an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter Scale struck central Colombia at 4.29N latitude and 75.68W longitude. More than thirty aftershocks have occurred, with the largest registering between 5.5 and 5.6 on the Richter Scale. The Government of Colombia has declared 20 municipalities as disaster zones. All are located in

Colombia - Earthquake

Fact Sheet #3, Fiscal Year 1999 February 1, 1999

Background: On January 25, 1999 at 1:19 p.m. EST, the epicenter of an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter Scale struck central Colombia at 4.29N latitude and 75.68W longitude. More than thirty aftershocks have occurred, with the largest registering between 5.5 and 5.6 on the Richter Scale. The Government

Southern Sudan
With the start of the dry season, harvesting is nearly complete across southern Sudan. The 1998 harvest, though better than that of 1997, left significant crop production shortfalls in many areas of Bahr-el-Ghazal, Upper Nile, Jonglei, Lakes, and Eastern Equatoria Regions. Food economy assessments recently carried out by WFP's Food Economy Analysis Unit and NGOs indicate that household food stocks are low. In addition, crops grown in better off locales are not accessible to all population groups. The worst affected are poor households, the displaced,

Ethiopia