The Sudan heads the watchlist of countries requiring emergency food assistance published in the latest issue of Foodcrops and Shortages . The list now stands at 38 countries, up one from the last report in February 1998.
Food shortages are widespread and malnutrition is reported to be increasing.
Intensified conflict since January has resulted in fresh waves of displaced people, aggravating an already precarious food situation following the 1997 drought-reduced harvest. Indonesia is the new addition to the report's list of countries requiring emergency assistance because of current food supply shortfalls, bringing the total to 38. Twenty-two of these are affected or threatened by successive bad crops or food shortages. Currently, 7.5 million people in Indonesia are facing acute food shortages. Special attention is given to countries where the prospects for current crops are unfavorable, because of decreased planting areas, adverse weather conditions and plant pests and diseases, for example, or which face exceptional food shortages for reasons including crop failure, natural disasters or increased food demand caused by population movements within the country or an influx of refugees.