EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/656

(2004/C 88 E/0674)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3959/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(5 January 2004)

Subject: Africa — food shortage and security of food supply

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has issued a warning in respect of the food shortage (due to poor harvests and the existence of conflicts) which is threatening 23 African countries, including Angola, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya and Somalia.

The FAO's report makes the point that, in certain regions, drought is having a particularly serious effect and that Somalia is concerned at the ‘serious humanitarian crisis’ which has arisen on the Sool plateau: it is estimated that, in that country alone, 93 000 people are in need of emergency humanitarian and food aid, whilst in Eritrea, 1,4 million people may require food aid.

In West Africa the FAO believes Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania to be at risk of a food shortage.

The situation is identical in Côte d'Ivoire, whereas in Liberia and Sierra Leone the food situation is improving on account of the return of refugees, who are injecting fresh impetus into the agriculture practise in those countries.

Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo may be described as problem countries in which insecurity continues to prevail.

FAO data reveal Zimbabwe to be one of the countries most at risk of a food shortage.

The Agriculture and Food Organisation forecasts that, in Angola, food aid sufficient for 1,4 million people will be required.

According to the above organisation's report, the AIDS epidemic in Africa is having a devastating effect on the security of the food supply in sub-Saharan Africa.

In view of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions:

— What information does the Commission hold regarding the shortages reported by the FAO?

— Has the European Union taken (or is it intending to take) any additional or complementary action designed to remedy the humanitarian emergency to which the FAO's warning relates?

— What does the Commission consider to be the main contribution which the EU could make in response to this emergency?

— In what way is the Commission in contact with local governments with a view to ensuring that any aid made available to the people in need is put to good use?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 2004)

1. The Commission is aware of the assessment presented in the Food Supply Situation in Sub-Sahara Africa report of the United Nations' (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) published in December 2003. Indeed, since 1999, the Commission has contributed up to EUR 5 million annually to the FAO's activities in food security assessment in developing countries, and especially to the Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Mapping System and to the Early Warning and Food Security Information System. Therefore, the FAO is an important part of the information used by the Commission to ascertain the situation in each country and prepare a response. Since 1996 the Commission has recruited Food Security experts to assist its Delegations in most of the emergency prone countries of the Southern and Horn of Africa regions. These experts are responsible for monitoring the food security situation in their country of residence. Since the FAO/World Food Programme (WFP) joint needs assessment in crisis-prone countries represents the starting point for Community Food Aid programming, the Commission pays great attention to the content and the quality of the assessment report. Since last year, the Commission has been developing a strategic dialogue with the WFP and FAO on Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions (CFSAM) and Emergency Needs Assessments (ENA) in order to increase the assessment reliability when a crisis occurs Since 2003, the European Food Security experts have participated as ‘observers’ in the WFP/FAO assessment team missions. Their reports are discussed in the country and at headquarters and feeds into the Commission/FAO-WFP strategic dialogue with additional information and analysis. In addition, data on the food security situation are also collected and analysed locally by its Delegations and its experts in the field. The humanitarian needs of the countries are also routinely being assessed by the European Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) staff visiting the countries mentioned in the FAO report. These experts' inputs provide complementary views to help the Commission. This exercise aims at improving the programming of the Commission interventions.

2. The Commission establishes annually a list of countries which have priority in the programming of emergency food security assistance. In establishing such a list the FAO assessments are taken duly into consideration.

3. The Commission seeks the best way for people subject to food shortage to return as quickly as possible to a normal food situation. Responses to such emergency situations are twofold: — first, when food deficits are demonstrated and cannot be filled through market mechanisms, food-aid may be provided; — second, structural interventions will be prepared in order to address the root causes of food insecurity. Such interventions might be in the field of rural development, health, markets development, social safety nets, etc … Decisions on resource allocation are taken on a case by case basis. As an illustration, the Honourable Member may find below some recent country examples: — Somalia: there is a crisis on the Sool Plateau. In spite of some rains in December 2003 and January 2004, the food security situation remains very difficult, lack of water being at least as critical as lack of food. The Commission made an allocation of EUR 4 million in December 2003 to respond to these needs. The programme will be implemented by the FAO. In parallel, a number of non-governmental organisations (NGO) actions in the field of food security are ongoing. — Zimbabwe: The Commission globally agrees with the 2003 FAO/WFP Crop and Needs Assessments. The Commission has responded substantially in 2003 to the food crisis: EUR32 million have been allocated to WFP, representing about 86 000 tonnes of maize and EUR 8 million have been allocated to a consortium of NGOs (Euronaid) for the distribution food and non food items. A further support of EUR 20 million through WFP is currently being prepared, bringing the total contribution from the Commission to EUR 60 million. Additionally, ECHO has made available a EUR 25 million in non-food humanitarian assistance, bringing the total Commission humanitarian assistance to EUR 85 million. Further assistance will be required in 2004 in conjunction with other donors as the situation remains critical. The Commission actively engages with other donors and supports the work of the Humanitarian Coordinator to ensure full transparency of the humanitarian assistance operations. — Mauritania: the country has a structural food deficit: 80 % of the food needs are imported. The 2003 season has been very bad and the government has launched an emergency plan to which the Commission has contributed up to 15 000 t of cereals. The Commission has been supporting a structural food security plan since 1998 by contributing to a food reserve (EUR 19 million), financing of micro-projects and improving the functioning of the administration's food security body. — Côte d'Ivoire: in the current situation, it is difficult to assess the level of country needs. Through WFP the Commission provides support targeted towards vulnerable populations (internally displaced persons, refugees, women with young babies, school canteens). EUR 6 million are planned for 2003-2004. Furthermore, in 2003 the Commission provided non-food humanitarian assistance worth EUR 5,74 million via ECHO. The same level of assistance is envisaged in 2004. ECHO assistance includes aid to the resettlement of displaced persons as well as projects to improve the nutritional status of the population.