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Estimated food security conditions, 1st Quarter 2010 (January-March)

Generally Food Secure
Moderately Food Insecure
Highly Food Insecure
Extremely Food Insecure
Famine
No Data

Favorable Conditions
Somewhat Favorable Conditions
Short Term Dryness
Drought
Severe Drought
Humanitarian Concern

Extreme Event
Heavy Snow
Heavy Rain
Flooding
Blowing Dust
Extreme Cold
Extreme Heat

The FEWS NET Food Insecurity Severity Scale Read Descriptions
Geographic data are partly derived from the UN/FAO GAUL system. Read Disclaimer

West Africa

Niger

02/10/2010

Currently high levels of food insecurity will likely become extreme between July and September among the poor agro-pastoral households. Though the return of ... more
- Currently high levels of food insecurity will likely become extreme between July and September among the poor agro-pastoral households. Though the return of migrant laborers in May/June may increase the number of mouths to feed, it will also bring new financial resources. Among pastoralists, current high food insecurity may become extreme in July until pastures regenerate in July/August.
Niger Country Center
Burkina Faso | Chad | Mali | Mauritania | Nigeria | Regional Center

Southern Africa

Malawi

02/17/2010

The 2009/2010 growing season, which will end with the March harvest, remains favorable except for about 275,000 food insecure people in Balaka, Zomba, Nsanje ... more
- The 2009/2010 growing season, which will end with the March harvest, remains favorable except for about 275,000 food insecure people in Balaka, Zomba, Nsanje, and Chikwawa districts. Currently, the government, in partnership with WFP and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), is distributing free food aid to about 147,000 people in all the affected districts, except Zomba. Local vendors continue to sell maize at prices lower than ADMARC’s MK52 per kilogram.
- Analysis of the seasonal progress shows there will be many areas with food deficits before the April 2010 harvest. The most-affected areas are the Lower and Middle Shire, and along the lakeshore. Food deficits will arise due to the extended dry spell. Most households in the Lower Shire will have no summer harvest at all.
- Round one of national crop production estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MoAFS) are due in a few weeks. The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) plans to conduct a food security assessment in March and MoAFS is currently assessing the impacts of the extended dry spells on the 2010 harvests. These reports will provide the necessary information for government and other food-security stakeholders in Malawi to start early food assistance programs in 2010.
Malawi Country Center
Mozambique | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Regional Center

Caribbean

Haiti

02/23/2010

The current food security situation, which rapidly deteriorated following the January 12 earthquake, has recently improved in response to 1) the provision of ... more
- The current food security situation, which rapidly deteriorated following the January 12 earthquake, has recently improved in response to 1) the provision of emergency food and non-food aid; 2) increased remittances; and 3) increased labor opportunities through cash-for-work activities and the resumption of casual labor and small business activities.
- Although current conditions are dynamic, CNSA and FEWS NET estimate that approximately 2.5 million people are food insecure, of which one million require emergency food and non-food assistance. The remainder require longer-term assistance to address chronic poverty and food insecurity. Most of the food insecure population is located in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, the Northwest, and in isolated and environmentally degraded mountainous areas in all departments.
- Household-level vulnerability has worsened due to a considerable loss of physical and human capital and the lack of access to basic social services. The scale and speed with which Port-au-Prince and other affected areas are rebuilt will be crucial for reducing food insecurity and vulnerability in the medium and long term.
- The greatest threats to food security over the coming six months are: the persistence of limited employment opportunities, lack of appropriate shelter and sanitation (impacts on both morbidity and civil security), and inadequate food assistance.
Haiti Country Center

East Africa

Djibouti

03/08/2010

The food security situation will be critical in the coming months and no significant improvement is expected until at least June, in spite of unseasonal show ... more
- The food security situation will be critical in the coming months and no significant improvement is expected until at least June, in spite of unseasonal showers that were observed in the first and second dekad of February, and the possible early onset of the next season (Diraac/Sougoum- March to May). Pastoralists have not yet recovered fully from the impact of the 2008 droughts, while the current crisis has increased vulnerability to shocks. Preliminary results from the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that the food security situation is of significant concern in most pastoral areas primarily due to the lack of water in water catchments, diminishing water tables, and very weak animal body conditions, as well as signs of acute malnutrition and poor dietary diversity. Livestock mortality has been reported in all districts and initial estimates are around 50-70 percent. Several hundred internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been reported in all districts.
- High levels of food insecurity will persist in the coming months for urban poor households due to high staple food prices (above the five-year average), the high employment rate, and the limited availability of casual labor opportunities. Malnutrition in poor urban areas is of high concern.
- Approximately 5,000 more refugees from Somalia are expected during the coming months according to WFP, in addition to the 12,000 existing refuges in Ali-Adde camp. The increased number of refugees is due to the halt of food aid distributions by WFP in southern Somalia, given ongoing insecurity and increasing restrictions by local militants.
Djibouti Country Center
Ethiopia | Kenya | Somalia | Sudan | Tanzania | Uganda | Regional Center

Central America

Guatemala

02/17/2010

The eastern parts of the dry corridor, in particular, are receiving assistance related to food security from various sources. Close coordination is necessary ... more
- The eastern parts of the dry corridor, in particular, are receiving assistance related to food security from various sources. Close coordination is necessary to avoid duplication of efforts and to ensure wide coverage.
- The western part of the country is in jeopardy of a deteriorating food security and nutritional situation, because the majority of households lack food reserves and after March, there will not be many labor opportunities through which they can earn money to purchase food.
- Weather forecasts indicate possible irregularities in the beginning of the rainy season, which could affect the primera harvest, especially in the dry corridor.
Guatemala Country Center

Central Asia

Afghanistan

11/30/2009

Following the historically large 2009 harvest, this year’s generous WFP and Afghanistan government food assistance, successful winter prepositioning, and mo ... more
- Following the historically large 2009 harvest, this year’s generous WFP and Afghanistan government food assistance, successful winter prepositioning, and modest beginnings of a national wheat grain reserves, Afghanistan’s food balance is expected to be in good position in the coming months and throughout the winter.
- The 2009 winter wheat plantation campaign was successful with 40,000 tons of certified and quality declared seeds distributed in 34 provinces of Afghanistan.
- October 2009 wheat market prices are slightly higher than long-term average with exception of Mazar and Hirat provinces, where wheat market prices are lower than long-term average by 9 and 23.
Afghanistan Country Center