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Estimated food security conditions, 4th Quarter 2009 (October-December)

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

Nigeria

10/23/2009

The performance of the 2009 season is mixed with regard to rainfall amount and temporal and spatial distribution. Rainfall declined in the north in early Oct ... more
- The performance of the 2009 season is mixed with regard to rainfall amount and temporal and spatial distribution. Rainfall declined in the north in early October, following normal trends. Current dryness and abrupt cessation of rains in some localized areas of the extreme north could result in localized damages to crops at maturing stages of development and jeopardize harvest expectations. In the North-Central, significant rice and maize crop failures were reported, and maize yield reductions are expected in the extreme south of Gombe. The South continues to experience normal to above-normal rains, and heavy rains persist in the coastal areas.
- Food security conditions have improved significantly nationwide, however, with respect to previous months as the growing season concludes. Farming households and traders are using the newly harvested long-cycle crops to replenish their food stocks and for sale in local markets. Significant production shortages are expected in areas of the extreme north and, to a lesser extent in the North-Central areas. The combined impact of limited own production and high food and non-food prices could constrain poor household food access by March/April, one to two months in advance of the normal hunger season in the extreme north along the border with Niger.
- After having reached seasonal peaks in August, prices of all staple foods in urban and rural markets are showing a downward trend, which is normal at this time of the year, when harvest peaks. However, most food prices are higher than their five-year average as traders adjust their prices upward to recoup for their investment in production. Prices are likely to rise sooner this year than usual as domestic food demand peaks in October, November and December and high fuel prices as the government withdraw its subsidies to the oil industry, thus increasing the cost of living.
Nigeria Country Center
Burkina Faso | Chad | Mali | Mauritania | Niger | Regional Center

Southern Africa

Malawi

11/11/2009

The overall food situation remains favorable. Less than five percent of the national population — mainly from Balaka, Zomba, Chikwawa, and Nsanje — are food ... more
- The overall food situation remains favorable. Less than five percent of the national population — mainly from Balaka, Zomba, Chikwawa, and Nsanje — are food insecure and in need of urgent food assistance. The major causes of food insecurity in those districts include low crop production due to prolonged dry spells during the critical crop development stage in the 2008/2009 growing season, low cotton prices, and increasing maize prices in local markets. The situation has been exacerbated by delayed commencement of humanitarian response in these districts.
- The overall food security situation is expected to remain favorable between October 2009 and March 2010, except for the food-insecure districts already mentioned, where humanitarian food assistance is urgently required and will be needed until the end of March 2010. The government has enough maize in the strategic grain reserves (SGR) to meet all the food needs for those identified as food insecure by the MVAC.
- Rainfall models for the 2009/2010 season forecast an El Niño phenomenon over Malawi. Like most El Niño years, flood conditions are likely in northern Malawi and prolonged dry spells in the south. The Central region will have transitional rainfall conditions.
Malawi Country Center
Mozambique | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Regional Center

Caribbean

Haiti

11/16/2009

As of October 2009, the food insecure population is estimated at 1.8 million people. This figure should show a downward trend through March 2010. This decrea ... more
- As of October 2009, the food insecure population is estimated at 1.8 million people. This figure should show a downward trend through March 2010. This decrease is due to several factors, including good agricultural performance of the last season; low inflation (especially for the category of food, beverages and tobacco), the continuation of infrastructure projects across the country, and weather conditions favorable to national agricultural production of the season in progress (August 2009-January 2010). The 2009 hurricane season that will end in November 2009 has not been detrimental to date.
- However, these factors alone can not lead to substantial improvements in food security conditions in the baseline scenario considered. Other factors to take into account include the price of oil on the international market and inflation in the U.S. dollar versus the gourde. These two variables would increase the price of imported goods and thus lead to a resumption of inflation.
- For a significant improvement of food security, CNSA and FEWS NET suggest that the Government and its partners take the following measures: 1) To assist farmers to gain time for the winter crop (November 2009 to February 2010), agricultural inputs are required; 2) Develop and implement programs to improve nutrition and health of students in core classes, especially in poor neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, and in the Northwest and Southeast regions.
Haiti Country Center

East Africa

Djibouti

11/19/2009

Most pastoral poor households are facing survival deficits due to poor successive seasons and high staple food prices, particularly in the Northwest and Sout ... more
- Most pastoral poor households are facing survival deficits due to poor successive seasons and high staple food prices, particularly in the Northwest and Southeast border pastoral livelihood zones, which are highly food insecure. Households in the Central pastoral zones are facing livelihood protection deficits. The numbers of persons in need of emergency assistance both food and livelihood protection interventions are expected to increase for the coming months if the current poor rainfall persists.
- In urban areas, food security situation is precarious due to high unemployment rate and high staple food prices. High malnutrition rates have been observed in Balbala according to the preliminary results of a July 2009 MSF study. Water shortages and the increase in water prices in Balbala area are also concerns.
- Though livestock exports have risen by 500 percent since the opening of a livestock export facility in in 2007, the recent lifting of Saudi Arabia’s import ban on Somali livestock may have negative effects on exports from Djibouti, resulting to livelihood crisis for those poor households who rely on related activities for their daily income.
Djibouti Country Center
Ethiopia | Kenya | Somalia | Sudan | Tanzania | Uganda | Regional Center

Central America

Guatemala

11/20/2009

Food insecurity increased due to a combination of climatic, economic, and health factors, giving rise to an increase in the number of acute malnutrition case ... more
- Food insecurity increased due to a combination of climatic, economic, and health factors, giving rise to an increase in the number of acute malnutrition cases among children under five years of age, especially in the dry corridor.
- The rainy season from August to November was below normal, which affected the postrera crops and the human health. The most vulnerable areas were in the dry corridor, which includes parts of the center and the east, and some municipalities in Quiché and Huehuetenango departments.
- September to March is the high season for unskilled labor in agricultural exports, such as coffee, sugarcane, melon, and watermelon, among others. Although demand for seasonal labor should be normal, there is a surplus of people seeking work in the sector, so many of those potential workers will not find work or obtain sufficient resources to purchase food.
- To target food aid, it is important to determine the extent of crop losses, the state of food insecurity, and the amount of household reserves during the early months of 2010. Such aid should include the timely distribution of agricultural inputs at the beginning of the year to improve yields from the primera harvest of basic grains next year.
Guatemala Country Center

Central Asia

Afghanistan

10/29/2009

The bumper main wheat harvest in 2009, decrease in cereal prices, and good food aid coverage are encouraging signs for the current food security situation in ... more
- The bumper main wheat harvest in 2009, decrease in cereal prices, and good food aid coverage are encouraging signs for the current food security situation in Afghanistan.
- In Afghanistan, winter is a tough time for the majority of the population. Heavy snow typically blocks the main access roads between the provinces and main food markets, and also creates problems for humanitarian actors to access certain areas for food aid and other humanitarian assistance. Usually in the areas where access is a problem, food prices increase. In addition, food and fuel prices begin to rise, affecting access to food and markets.
- Adding to the access problems, the currently vague political future of the country, insurgency and military operations, war-induced migration, high numbers of deportations from Iran and Pakistan, and decreasing employment opportunities during winter contribute to ongoing food insecurity in many parts of the country.
Afghanistan Country Center