Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 18 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 27 April 2001. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Friday, 27 April 2001 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the size of the food deficit in (a) The Upper Nile, (b) the Southern Blue Nile, (c) Twitch County, (d) The Nuba Mountains and (e) Eastern Equatoria regions of Sudan.

Answer: Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the size of the food deficit in (a) The Upper Nile, (b) the Southern Blue Nile, (c) Twitch County, (d) The Nuba Mountains and (e) Eastern Equatoria regions of Sudan. [158773] Clare Short: There are indications that there may be food deficits in some parts of Sudan this year. We are monitoring the situation closely, both from London and through our DFID representative at the British Embassy in Khartoum. In terms of the specific areas mentioned, UN assessments have suggested that there may be food deficits emerging as a result of variable agro-climatic conditions, compounded by security related to disruptions to production.

Secondary information