Highlights
There is almost total failure of crops in the winter rain-receiving areas of northern Red Sea (Bahri Season).
ERREC reported that response to the 2003 appeal is low and slow. By early February 2003, of the requested 476,797 MT of food (Cereals, pulses, oil, salt and CBS) only 110,609 MT have been committed leaving a gap of 366,188 MT.
Minimum buffer food stocks that should be available at all times for response are estimated at 100,000 MT. while current in-country stocks account for 26,000 Tons.
There was a general increase in the prices of cereals and pulses in December 2002 and January 2003, as compared to that of September 2002. Normally, highest prices are observed in August -September (just before the main harvest in October -November). On the other hand the prices of livestock are decreasing in some markets. Livestock owners are selling their animals at lower than normal prices fearing that their animals may die from starvation.
1. Rainfall Assessment
January is one of the rainiest months over the Red Sea coast and Eastern escarpments, while the high grounds and Western lowlands generally remain under dry condition.
During January 2003 isolated to scattered rainfall was reported over the Red Sea coast and Eastern Escarpments. Very few areas of the Southern high ground reported some isolated rainfall.
At the same time, most of the expected summer rain benefiting regions or zobas (Debub, Maekel, Anseba and Gash Barka) experienced dry weather condition.
The following stations reported rainfall during January 2003: Ghinda 74 mm, Afambo 25 mm, Adi-Keih 25 mm, Assab 24 mm, Massawa 17 mm, Maelewya 17 mm, and Tsorona 9 mm
Figure1: Spatial distribution of rainfall during January 2003
Comparison of January 2003 with January 02, ‘01, ‘00, ‘99, 98 and with the average.
- When this year's January rainfall was compared with January 2002, 2001 , 1999. and average rainfall of the past eleven years, Massawa area received less amount of rainfall, while Ghinda and Assab and their vicinity recorded more rainfall.
- When January 2003 is compared with the rainfall of January 2000, this year had better rainfall.
- When it is compared with 1998, Ghinda recorded less rainfall, while Massawa and Assab recorded a higher rainfall.
Unfortunately, this apparent improvement in some areas was not enough to secure food production, especially due to the late of the rains, expected to start two months before.
Figure 2: Comparison of rainfall over the Bahri receiving areas
NB: AVG. = Average rainfall of the past eleven years.
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