Global food assessment : situation and outlook report

The greatest needs are in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by South Asia and Latin America. To maintain per capita grain consumption at 1987-91 levels, an estimated 16 million tons of food aid are necessary. To meet the United Nations" minimum nutritional standard would require 27 million tons. Both estimates show significant increase from the aid made available in 1991/92 (12.4 million tons). In sub-Saharan Africa alone, needs are up 62% from the previous year to 9.6 million tons. The largest increase in food needs is in drought-affected southern Africa, where projected needs are almost four times greater than in the previous year: Zambia"s needs will rise tenfold, Zimbabwe"s from 0 to over 800,000 tons, and Malawi"s needs will be nearly 900,000 tons. Sharply higher needs are also evident in East Africa, where drought and civil war have led to devastating famine in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan.