External food assistance to the country has virtually dried up, following the evacuation of staff of humanitarian agencies to neighbouring countries. Fighting in the east, notably in Bo, Kenema, Koidu and Makeni in late 1998 had already severely disrupted food distribution in these areas, and caused large population displacements. The food supply situation is precarious in these areas and is expected to worsen as a result of the severe disruption of food assistance activities previously organized from Freetown. Only very limited humanitarian activities can now be undertaken through cross-border operations from neighbouring Guinea. In addition to the halt in commercial imports through the Freetown seaport, the main roads linking Freetown to the rest of the country are closed, preventing the flow of food supplies from the rural areas.
Roads linking the main towns are also closed and insecurity prevents most trading activities.
Rice is the main staple in Sierra Leone but some other foodcrops such as millet, sorghum, maize and cassava are also produced. If fighting and insecurity persist into the next rice cropping season starting in April, most agricultural rehabilitation activities planned for 1999, including seeds and tools distribution and technical assistance, will be delayed or remain very limited. The area planted to crops will be reduced and the 1999 crop could be much lower than the 1998 level, which was itself below pre-crisis levels. As a result, Sierra Leone will rely even more heavily on food assistance to meet its basic food needs. The Red Cross Societies have reinforced their activities in Guinea and Liberia and upgraded their contingency plans for Sierra Leonean refugees.