Skip to main content

Food insecurity in northeastern bimodal areas is likely to continue

  • Key Message Update
  • Tanzania
  • September 2016
Food insecurity in northeastern bimodal areas is likely to continue

Download the Report

  • Key Messages
  • Key Messages
    • Minimal acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 1) is likely to persist in most areas of the country, outside the refugee camps, through September. Government of Tanzania restrictions on staple food exports to neighboring countries, coupled with overall favorable Msimu and Masika harvests has kept maize and rice prices approximately 20 and 30 percent lower, respectively, compared to last year. Subsequently, food access for poor households has been sustained through the onset of the lean season in many areas.

    • However, acute food insecurity for poor households in bimodal areas in Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Pwani, and Tanga regions is increasing, with an earlier onset of the lean season in September, following below-average Masika production. Even though there is a decreasing likelihood for a La Niña event, poor, erratic rains at the onset in October in the northeastern lowlands are likely to reduce labor opportunities. With lower incomes, food market purchases will likely be constrained, leading to Stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity outcomes through January 2017.  

    • The majority of refugees are in Stressed (IPC Phase 2!) and nearly 30,000 recent resource-poor arrivals are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3!) acute food insecurity in the presence of humanitarian assistance. As of September 18, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that nearly 230,000 refugees were in Nyarugusu, Mtendeli, and Nduta camps. In Mtendeli camp in Kakonko District in Kigoma, the refugees represent about 26 percent of the population, so FEWS NET has classified this area as Stressed (IPC Phase 2!) in the presence of humanitarian assistance. WFP has indicated that only 62 percent of its USD 18 million food needs from August to January 2016 are resourced. 

    This Key Message Update provides a high-level analysis of current acute food insecurity conditions and any changes to FEWS NET's latest projection of acute food insecurity outcomes in the specified geography. Learn more here.

    Get the latest food security updates in your inbox Sign up for emails

    The information provided on this Website is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government.

    Jump back to top