afrol News, 25 September - Heavy rains in late July and early August, which caused severe floods in southern Chad, have affected 30,000 people, a third of whom lost their homes and possessions, media alert said.

According to report issued today, availability of food products on market is difficult due to rains, and food reserves from cereal crops and cash crops have already largely been exhausted.

"Despite three consecutive surplus cereal harvests, rise in cereal prices on international markets has had an impact on domestic prices, with steady increases following last harvest of December 2007," alert says.

It states that most likely, food security scenario from October to December 2008 could be characterised by average to below average cereal harvests compared to last three years.

This according to report, could translate into relatively high prices, even in immediate post-harvest period, with a tendency towards above average prices in following months.

"In conflict-prone zones of East (Dar Sila and Dar Tama), structurally deficit regions (Kanem and Batha West) and Tibesti, which depends almost exclusive on overseas markets (in Libya and Niger) for its food needs, a proportion of households, about 700,000 people will face moderate levels of food insecurity," report says.

It however further shows that elsewhere, most households will be food secure following harvests.

In worst-case scenario, it notes that cereal harvests will be poor due to a bad distribution of rains and localised flooding.

"Anticipation of a weak cereal supply to markets in post-harvest period could lead to a surge in prices before harvest, at peak of hunger period," it says.

It adds that political lack of consensus between rebels and Chadian government or between latter and government of Sudan could trigger new confrontations in east.

Alert further shows that this would lead to increased civil insecurity and new displacements of people and disrupt commercial exchanges and provisioning of emergency humanitarian services for refugees and displaced persons.

"This scenario could result in high to extreme levels of food insecurity for a proportion of households (about 700,000 people) in affected areas, including Tibesti, structurally deficit areas (Western Kanem and Batha), and conflict-prone areas (Dar Sila and Dar Tama)," it concludes.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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