Information has been available since July that late and poor short-season rains in parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea were likely to seriously affect harvests and lead to localised food shortages later in the year. As of October, after delayed long-season rains, it became clear that a more serious humanitarian crisis was likely to develop, particularly in the first half of 2003 when the food gap would be at its greatest.
À partir du mois d'octobre, après le retard des pluies lors de la «grande» saison, il est devenu manifeste qu'une crise humanitaire plus grave risquait de se développer, en particulier au premier semestre de 2003 où le déficit alimentaire serait le plus aigu.