( Persistent drought and plagues of locus...)One Fifth of Timor Needs Food Assistance: UN Report,Health

Persistent drought and plagues of locusts ravaged Timor-Leste's harvest in 2007, cutting production of major crops by as much as 30 per cent and leaving one-fifth of the population in need of food assistance , says a report issued today by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

To avert a major food crisis, between 210,000 and 220,000 vulnerable people living in outlying areas across the island nation will require more than 15,000 tonnes of emergency food assistance, particularly during the six months of the coming 'lean season', from October 2007 to March 2008.

"A poor harvest this year has worsened the already fragile livelihoods of people all over Timor but especially among the poorest people living in rural and more remote districts," said Anthony Banbury, WFP's Regional Director for Asia.

"And for many of those displaced by the conflict during last year's crisis, who continue to live outside of their communities, a restricted domestic food supply means they will continue to rely on food assistance," he added.

The new report, based on a joint assessment mission carried out by the two UN agencies in March and April, suggests substantial reductions in all of the country's crops due in large part to recurring drought, especially on the north coast, and an outbreak of locust infestations in the western regions.

Production of maize, Timor's most important crop, declined by 30 per cent to 70,000 tonnes. Output of cereals, cassava and other tubers dropped by 25-30 per cent while rice production decreased by 20 per cent.

"Producers are in urgent need of maize and rice seeds, fertilizer and other agricultural inputs to prepare for the next cropping season," said Henri Josserand, Chief of FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System. "We need to continue to closely monitor the drought situation and any further locust infesta
'"/>




Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Fifth US Patient Receives Artificial Heart
2. Fifth case of bird flu in China confirmed
3. Diabetes Labeled As Worlds Fifth Killer Disease
4. One- Fifths of Lung Cancer Patients are Non-smoking Women: Study
5. Boffins Identify Fifth Gene Behind Joubert Syndrome
6. Bobby Robson Diagnosed With Cancer for Fifth Time
7. WFP Announces Food Assistance Plan for Timor Leste
8. Elderly People Needs To Tackle The Heat Effectively
9. India Needs To Pay More Attention To Detecting Cancer
10. Canada Needs More Doctors To Deal With A Pandemic
11. Africa Needs More Drugs For HIV