Torrential rains resulted in widespread flooding, principally around the capital Phnom Penh in late October/early November, when 150 mm of rainfall was received instead of 30 mm in normal years. The worst affected areas were around Pursat, Battambang, Kg.Speu, Takeo and Kandal. Although thousands of people had to abandon homes, no serious casualties have been reported so far. The full extent of damage to the main rice crop, to be harvested shortly, is yet to be determined, though unconfirmed reports indicate that around 2 000 hectares had been affected. Risks of further rainfall and flooding still remain relatively high. The overall food situation, however, remains satisfactory, following a good early rice crop and generally favourable prospects for the main wet season crop, to be harvested from January. Rice accounts for some 84 percent of annual food crop production and is planted on around 90 percent of cropped area, mainly in the Central Mekong Basin and Delta and the Tonle Sap Plain. In recent years after the end of hostilities rice production has been increasing. Aggregate 1998/99 paddy production was around 3.52 million tonnes, some 3 percent above 1997/98 production and 19 percent above the five year average. The target for 1999/00 is between 3.5-4.0 million tonnes. Before the recent floods, a good rainy season rice crop was in prospect, suggesting that there may have been an exportable surplus in parts. Although the overall food situation remains satisfactory, a sizeable section of the population remains vulnerable to food shortages, which this year may be exacerbated by the recent floods. An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply mission, earlier assessed that some 40 000 tonnes of rice in food assistance (through a WFP Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation) would be needed to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, in addition to varying amounts of fish and vegetable oil.