Cyclical droughts, exacerbated by a rapidly growing population, endemic poverty, and limited government capacity, have led to chronic food insecurity and water shortages in Ethiopia. Despite an overall improvement in food security in 2007, approximately 8 million people in Ethiopia continue to receive food assistance through the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GFDRE) Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). Poor 2007 belg rains resulted in below normal harvests in areas of eastern Ethiopia, and significant humanitarian challenges, including flooding, conflict, malnutrition, acute watery diarrhea (AWD) outbreaks, delayed food response, and locust infestations, confront populations in many areas of the country. In addition, security operations have disrupted trade networks, and restrictions on the movement of people and livestock in Somali Region are threatening food insecurity for vulnerable populations. In February 2007, the GFDRE, the U.N., and humanitarian partners released the 2007 Joint Humanitarian Appeal for Ethiopia requesting emergency assistance for nearly 1.4 million people, representing a reduction of approximately 50 percent from the previous year.