from chronic malnutrition and, more generally, to improve their social and economicsiluation. Their needs require consistent and large support by tbe international community, 23. The gravity of the Afrlcan crisis is causing strains in some UniCed Nationsproqrammes, including the FAO^iorId Food programme (VlFp) emergency operati.ons. Alarge share of Che outlays in these operations is for refugees, dispLaced persons and victims of war and civil dlsturbances. Because of the concentration of theseprobrens in Africa, the bulk of the FAo/wFp emergency operations is being direccedto Africa although several operations trere also instituted in Asia, As at [4ay 1985, the number of requests for energency assistance was rapidly exhaustingthe resources of the fnternational Emergency Food Reserve and the WFp annual emergency al-location, despite the fact that total pledges to the Reserve at thattime - 553.000 tons of cereals and over 37,100 tons of non-cereal food commodities - were well above the ninimum target of 5oo,oo0 tons. since even theseIarger resources vere inadequaEe. the Di rector-cenera 1 of FAO launched an appeal tothe international donor communily for additional contributions. 24. fn order to assure food security, FAO has also proposed strengthening itsGlobal rnformation and Early warni.ng system for Pood and Agriculture, uhich wourdqnable countries to take the necessary action in time to avert a food catastrophe.Accordingry' FAo is developing a programme to establish an operational. satellice remote sensing system for monitoring and forecasting agricultural production andthe desert locust population in Africa, the Near East and South-vest Asia.^/40 /s97 English Page 9 25. Inproved food-stocking ls also needed. WFp haspre-stocking food within countries in recognition of because of inadeguate logistic facilities within the has cl-early illustrated the human cost of avoidable deliverv.stressed the need for the bottle-necks that arise countries. RecenE experience delays in emergency food IIIMOIIEY AND FINAI,ICE, TRANSFER OF F.ESOURCES, INCLUDING OFFICIAL DEVEIPPMEIIT ASSISTANCE, INDEBTEDNESS AND MULTILATERAL
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the need for international support to address chronic malnutrition and food crises, particularly in Africa. It highlights the role of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in responding to these crises, including the use of remote sensing systems to monitor agricultural production and desert locust populations. The text also mentions the need for improved food-stocking and the challenges posed by inadequate logistic facilities. These themes suggest that the text is focused on humanitarian aid and relief, as well as agriculture and food security.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Agriculture, forestry and fishing