Hiiraan Online

FEWS
Sunday March 31, 2019

• The average Meher harvest replenished household stocks in Meher producing parts of the central and western parts of the country and major portions of these areas of the country will remain in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity from February to September 2019. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected to continue, however, in southeastern and northeastern Ethiopia through September 2019 due to drought and conflict related displacement.
• In portions of the eastern lowlands of Oromia, eastern Amhara and southern Tigray, and conflict affected areas of SNNPR, and Oromia, Meher production is below average and access to food for the majority of households is constrained. These areas will be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) between February and September 2019. Southern parts of SNNPR and Oromia, southern and central Afar, northern Somali region of Shinile zone and major parts of eastern Amhara and southeastern Tigray will remain in Stressed (IPC Phase 2) from February to September 2019.
• Conflict-induced displacement needs have increased across different parts of the country due to displacements that negatively affected households’ access to food and income – according to DTM 14, more than 3 million people were displaced from their homes by the end of 2018. This displacement limits livelihoods opportunities and restricts humanitarian access.  Some locations in Kemashe zone of Benshangul Gumuze, and Dawa zone of Somali region remain inaccessible until the end of 2018, hindering the delivery of much needed humanitarian assistance.

For more information, see the Ethiopia Food Security Outlook from February to September 2019.

• Due to the positive impacts of the preceding above-average 2018 long rains season that persist nationwide, Minimal (IPC Phase 1) and Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes prevail in Kenya despite mixed 2018 short rains performance. Carryover long rains stocks and favorable terms of trade are maintaining household food availability and food access. Forecast average March to May 2019 long rains in eastern Kenya and above-average long rains in western, unimodal areas is expected to result in normal crop and livestock production, improving more areas to Minimal (IPC Phase 1) through September.
• In marginal agricultural areas, short rains maize production was 55 to 65 percent below the five-year average, driving Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes. Due to the availability of carryover stocks combined with short rains production, however, household maize stocks are only 21 percent below the five-year average in the southeast and 22 percent above average along the coast. Given likely average agricultural labor demand and average long rains harvests in 2019, most marginal agricultural livelihood zones are expected to improve to Minimal (IPC Phase 1) through September. However, in areas where the long rains harvest is more minimal, Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes are likely to be sustained.
• In pastoral Kenya, livestock body conditions and milk production are declining but generally remain better than normal for the dry season, while above-average goat-to-maize terms of trade in most reference markets is sustaining household purchasing power. The expected average long rains are expected to lead to seasonal improvements in livestock productivity, permitting most households to meet their minimum food needs through the peak of lean season in September. As a result, most livelihood zones are expected to sustain Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes, though some households in eastern, northern, and northwestern pastoral areas are likely to be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).

For more information, see the Kenya Food Security Outlook from February to September 2019.

• Drought conditions in the 2018/19 Deyr season have led to an increase in the total food insecure population since October. However, the impact of humanitarian food assistance resulted in an 11 percent decline in the population in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) compared to the post-Gu. In the presence of food assistance, most northern pastoral livelihood zones and nearly half of IDP settlements are currently Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!), while Guban Pastoral is in Crisis! (IPC Phase 3!). Crisis (IPC Phase 3) persists in Togdheer Agropastoral livelihood zone and most remaining IDP settlements.
• National Deyr cereal production was 25 percent below average, but production shortfalls in low potential agropastoral areas ranged from 60 percent below average to failed. Poor households are expected to deplete their food stocks by March or earlier. In northern and central pastoral areas, declining livestock body conditions, limited livestock saleability, and rising food prices are expected to constrain household food access. Needs will be highest in April and May, at the peak of the pastoral lean season and start of the agricultural lean season.
• Due to funding shortfalls that may prevent full implementation of planned food assistance, deterioration to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) is expected in many pastoral and agropastoral areas through May. In Guban Pastoral livelihood zone, In other areas, seasonal improvements driven by anticipated average Gu rainfall are likely to restore Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes from June onward.

For more information, see the Somalia Food Security Outlook from February to September 2019.

• Extreme levels of acute food insecurity persist across South Sudan during the 2018/19 post-harvest period. Based on the January 2019 IPC analysis, 6.17 million people were in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse in January. This estimate was in the presence of humanitarian food assistance and included roughly 30,000 people in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5).
• Conflict has declined somewhat since mid-2018, and staple food prices have declined slightly in several areas. Despite these improvements, conflict and very poor macroeconomic conditions still exist and are expected to persist throughout the projection period.  Furthermore, many households still face extreme difficulty meeting their basic food needs as the protracted conflict has significantly disrupted livelihoods and eroded households’ coping capacity.
• Food security is expected to deteriorate through the July/August peak of the lean season. Although humanitarian food assistance is anticipated to scale up during the lean season and will likely prevent more catastrophic outcomes, past trends indicate that the severity of food insecurity still increases during the lean season relative to the harvest period despite the increase in humanitarian food assistance. Widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are anticipated, and some households are likely to be in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Jonglei, Lakes, and Upper Nile States are of greatest concern, though concern still remains high for Unity, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Greater Kapoeta. The total population in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse is expected to increase to an estimated 7.7 million people between May and July/August, in the absence of humanitarian food assistance. 
• A risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5) will persist in South Sudan. Past trends indicate that food security can deteriorate sharply when conflict shifts and severely limits household movement and humanitarian access. Should this worst-case scenario occur, Famine (IPC Phase 5) would be likely. In order to sustain long-term food security improvements and end the persistent risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5) in South Sudan, full implementation of the September 2018 peace deal and an end to the conflict by all parties is needed.

For more information, see the South Sudan Food Security Outlook from February to September 2019.

• Food security has seasonally improved with increased cereal availability following the November to February harvest. However, the macroeconomic situation remains very poor and is expected to further deteriorate throughout the projection period, and this will drive continued extremely high food and non-food prices. The negative impacts of high food prices will be somewhat mitigated by the fact that livestock prices and wage labor are also increasing, though overall purchasing power will remain below average. A higher number of households than is typical will face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse outcomes through September.
• Between June and September, the lean season in Sudan, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected in parts of Red Sea, Kassala, Al Gadarif, Blue Nile, West Kordofan, North Kordofan, South Kordofan, and Greater Darfur. Of highest concern are the IDPs in SPLM-N controlled areas of South Kordofan and SPLA-AW controlled areas of Jebel Marra, who have been inaccessible for both assessments and food assistance deliveries. IDPs in these areas are expected to be in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) during the August-September peak of the lean season.  
• The June to September 2019 rainy season is forecasted to be above average. This is anticipated to lead to flooding in mid-2019 and increase the prevalence of waterborne disease. Similar to 2018, it is anticipated that the above-average rainfall will lead to favorable crop yields, though ongoing macroeconomic issues likely continue to limit households’ capacity to cultivate and harvest at normal levels. Overall, 2019/20 production will likely be average, though more reliable harvest projections will be possible once planting is underway in June/July.

For more information, see the Sudan Food Security Outlook from February to September 2019.

• Anticipated above-average March to May rainfall in bimodal areas is expected to result in average crop and livestock production and related labor opportunities, though areas prone to flooding and landslides would see localized production shortfalls. Consecutive seasons of near-average bimodal production is expected to maintain Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes through September.
• In Karamoja, household food gaps are expected to widen, particularly in Kotido and Kaabong. Declining wage rates and rising food prices are limiting purchasing power, thereby constraining household food access and increasing the use of negative coping strategies. 2019 production is anticipated to be slightly below-average, driven by reduced area planted as most farmers were unable to save seeds from failed 2018 harvests. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are likely to intensify until July, when availability of the harvests will support recovery to Stressed (IPC Phase 2).
• In bimodal Uganda, low staple food prices driven by surplus market supply are enhancing food access. Retail prices of maize, sorghum, and cassava in January were below both the five-year and previous year averages by two to 38 percent, and prices are expected to remain low to near-average throughout the scenario period. However, sorghum prices in northern Karamoja are highly dynamic due to increased household demand and poorer market supply flows. Although prices stabilized in January compared to the five-year average, prices are currently 11 and 50 percent above the five-year average in Nakapiripirit and Kotido markets.
• In refugee settlements, Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) outcomes are expected to be maintained, driven by humanitarian food assistance and own production. Assistance is planned through September and at least partially funded through May. However, food security outcomes would deteriorate to Crisis! (IPC Phase 3!) in the event of significant ration cuts.

For more information, see the Uganda Food Security Outlook from February to September 2019.

Yemen

• FEWS NET estimates that approximately 17 million people in Yemen would be in need of urgent action (IPC Phase 3 or higher) in the absence of ongoing humanitarian food assistance. Sa’ada and Hajjah governorates are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), which is associated with large food consumption gaps and/or extreme depletion of livelihood assets. Of the remaining governorates in Crisis (IPC Phase 3), six would be in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) in the absence of ongoing assistance.
• Conflict continues in Al Hudaydah governorate, although at lower levels than prior to the Stockholm Agreement reached in mid-December 2018. Meanwhile, hostilities have escalated in Hajjah and Sa’ada governorates. The potential for conflict to significantly disrupt imports and trade through Al Hudaydah City remains a high concern, and in a worst-case scenario could lead to Famine (IPC Phase 5).
• Large-scale humanitarian assistance continues to play an important role in reducing the severity of acute food insecurity outcomes in Yemen. In January 2019, WFP distributed in-kind and voucher assistance to approximately 9.1 million people. At current funding and assistance levels, WFP expects to continue providing assistance through April 2019, and to scale up its assistance to reach 12 million people each month. 

For more information, see the Yemen Food Security Outlook from February to September 2019.

• Total Season 2019A production of maize, beans, and semi-perennials is likely to be above average at the national level. However, localized areas across the country, particularly in Busoni, Bugabira and Kirundo Communes in Kirundo Province, have significant maize and bean production shortfalls due to a dry spell at critical growth stages.  Affected households are currently receiving humanitarian food assistance, which is enabling Minimal! (IPC Phase 1!) outcomes, but they would likely experience Crisis (IPC Phase 3) in the absence of assistance at the peak of lean season in April. Although most other areas are currently in Minimal (IPC Phase 1), at least 20 percent of the population is likely to be Stressed (IPC Phase 2) during the leans season until the Season B harvests are well underway. Season B planting is expected to be completed on time in March and forecast average March to May rains are likely to lead to average June-August harvests.
• Household food access remains generally stable or has improved, except in areas that experienced severe production shortfalls. According to key informants in Busoni and Bugabira communes, staple food prices remained generally stable from November 2018 to January 2019. From February to March, however, cereal and bean prices increased by about 10 percent. The price of banana and roots and tubers remained stable or declined. Demand for unskilled labor has remained relatively stable, leading to a slight increase in wages compared to one year ago.
• Humanitarian food assistance and livelihoods programs continue to enable Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) outcomes for vulnerable IDP, Congolese refugee, and Burundian returnee populations. No major change in the numbers of IDPs and Congolese refugees is anticipated; however, the number of returnees is likely to increase in coming months as nearly 20,000 refugees in Tanzania have registered for voluntary return and are expected to come back home within 2019. Current population figures are estimated to be 142,000 IDPs, 43,000 refugees in camps, and 52,000 returnees. In the absence of assistance, many of these households would be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).

For more information, see the Burundi Remote Monitoring Report for February 2019.

• Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes are expected throughout Rwanda through September 2019, supported by above-average crop production and anticipated below-average food prices. However, localized areas may be severely affected by flooding and landslides due to above-average rainfall currently forecast for the March-May period. Those areas may temporarily face Stressed (IPC Phase 2 food security outcomes before receiving assistance. The northern and western parts of Rwanda are particularly vulnerable to those natural disasters.
• According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), staple food prices decreased by 0.7 percent in rural areas and remained unchanged in urban areas between December and January, a time that is typically the peak of the lean season. Food prices are likely to stay below average in most areas throughout the projection period, supporting favorable food access from markets.
• An estimated 145,000 people are refugees in Rwanda. Many are increasingly seeking jobs across the country or engaging in petty trade. Various organizations have also started to implement programs that assist refugees integrate into national health, educational, and safety nets systems. Most refugees in Rwanda face no acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 1!), though some are likely Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!).

For more information, see the Rwanda Remote Monitoring Report for February 2019.