The following four maps show Estimated Food Emergency situations in Africa, in general, and Ethiopia, in particular, from Aug-Sept and Oct.-Dec 2011.

They are provided by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS-NET) – a USAID-funded system that collaborates with international, regional and national partners to provide timely and rigorous early warning and vulnerability information on emerging and evolving food security issues.

However, the fifth map, at the bottom, which includes the situations in Eritrea is prepared by The Economist.

Africa – Projected food security conditions (August-September 2011)

Ethiopia – Projected food security conditions, (August-September 2011)

Africa – Projected food security conditions (October-December 2011)

Ethiopia – Projected food security conditions (October-December 2011)

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Eritrea:

Though the Eritrean regime has so far refused to disclose the humanitarian situation, thus left blank in the maps above, United State said on Tuesday ‘…conditions in Eritrea are probably quite similar to the drought conditions that we are seeing in other places.'[Read US State Dept. A/Secretary remark here.]

On the other hand, The Economist claimed yesterday that ‘Ethiopian officials claim that almost half of Eritrea’s 5.3m inhabitants are in need of food assistance’. Though the Economist considered that figure ‘an exaggeration’, it made an imprecise remark likening Eritrea’s situation with Somalia. In addition it came with its estimation depicted in the map below.

Read the forecast and maps on Somalia’s Famine – here.

Check the Hunger Archive for related posts.