Estimated food security conditions, 3rd Quarter 2008 (July-September)

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

Geographic data are partly derived from the UN/FAO GAUL system. Read Disclaimer

West Africa

Burkina Faso

10/31/2008

The good progress of the 2008/09 crop year leaves favorable prospects for harvests and has improved food security in most areas.
The rise in the ... more
- The good progress of the 2008/09 crop year leaves favorable prospects for harvests and has improved food security in most areas.
- The rise in the prices over the last few months will be tempered by the anticipated record harvests The food security of vulnerable households in some rural and urban areas should improve as newly harvested crops reach the markets.
- Livestock are in good condition, and livestock prices remain high and are expected to increase in the months ahead.
- Off-season crop prospects are good if preparation and planting are on time. This production will further improve food availability over the next five months.
Burkina Faso Country Center
Chad | Mali | Mauritania | Niger | Nigeria | Regional Center

Southern Africa

Mozambique

10/30/2008

October marks the normal start to the hunger period and the agricultural season. This year’s hunger period is likely to be particularly harsh in areas where ... more
- October marks the normal start to the hunger period and the agricultural season. This year’s hunger period is likely to be particularly harsh in areas where the 2008 main and second season harvests were affected by drought and other hazards. Floods occurred in the central region and parts of the north, cyclones destroyed crops and infrastructure in coastal Nampula and Zambezia, wildfires struck the central region, and moderate to severe drought continues in the southern and part of the central regions.
- Food insecurity is worsening in most of the country’s drought-affected areas, and humanitarian assistance is urgently needed to assist over 300,000 food insecure people. Currently only about 250,000 persons in flood and drought affected areas are being assisted. WFP has planned to address all food needs, but their food aid pipeline is undersupplied, and a pipeline break is imminent.
- The seasonal rains usually begin in the south in October but have yet to start this year. The late onset of the rains has increased the probability of prolonged drought conditions in the south up until January and an extension of the hunger period into February.
- Food prices continue to rise, although the rate of increase has declined. Maize prices are still well above both the five-year average (2003-07) and prices at this time last year.
Mozambique Country Center
Malawi | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Regional Center

Caribbean

Haiti

10/07/2008

High winds, heavy rains, and floods from two hurricanes and two tropical storms that stuck Haiti between August 15 to September 15 caused at least 423 deaths ... more
- High winds, heavy rains, and floods from two hurricanes and two tropical storms that stuck Haiti between August 15 to September 15 caused at least 423 deaths, destroyed eight major bridges and more than 10,000 homes, caused losses of land and animals, and endangered many potable water sources, particularly in the departments of Artibonite, West, and part of the southern peninsula.
- Food security, which was already precarious before these storms due to increased prices for basic food, has further deteriorated. Haiti’s National Food Security Commission and FEWS NET estimate that approximately three million people are food insecure, a 20 percent increase in over one month.
- National and international partners continue to mobilize urgent assistance for affected populations, and humanitarian organizations have coordinated responses well to date. Emergency assistance is needed until July 2009, when the first harvests not impacted by the recent storms will be ready. Activities to strengthen the country’s economic and human capacity, as well as stop environmental degradation are paramount. The November and December hunger period is anticipated to be particularly difficult in the most affected areas.
- It is recommended that the Government of Haiti and its national and international partners 1) increase and continue to coordinate emergency response activities in the areas most affected by increased prices for basic commodities and the recent storms ; 2) develop and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation and environmental protection program to reduce household vulnerability to shocks that increase their food insecurity; and 3) improve risk mitigation and contingency planning efforts to better respond to disasters.
Haiti Country Center

East Africa

Kenya

10/29/2008

The food security of drought-affected pastoralists, agropastoralists, and marginal agricultural farmers depends crucially on the outcome of the October to De ... more
- The food security of drought-affected pastoralists, agropastoralists, and marginal agricultural farmers depends crucially on the outcome of the October to December short rains. The forecast for the short rains suggests favorable rains in the western, northwestern and southern areas of the country but the likelihood of poor rains in the drought-affected northern and eastern pastoral areas.
- A succession of poor rains, livestock disease, most notably the peste des petit ruminant (PPR), conflict and high food and non-food prices have combined to exacerbate food insecurity in pastoral areas. Implementation of cross-sectoral interventions proposed following the long rains assessment remains the most realistic hope of averting a food security crisis, in the event that the short rains are poor.
- National grain supply has started to improve as harvests reach the market, yet they have had little impact on maize prices so far.
Kenya Country Center
Djibouti | Ethiopia | Somalia | Sudan | Tanzania | Uganda | Regional Center

Central America

Guatemala

10/30/2008

Heavy rainfall in July and August affected household production of crops in the north, south, and west of the country intended for consumption and commercial ... more
- Heavy rainfall in July and August affected household production of crops in the north, south, and west of the country intended for consumption and commercial sale, thus reducing household food availability and incomes. Affected households will benefit from the postrera maize and bean harvests in November (and in the north, from grain harvests in January and February). However, they will have to resort to market purchases earlier than normal in the year ahead.
- Heavy rains have damaged infrastructure, hindering movement, access, and marketing activities during the hunger period, and have contributed to price increases for staple foods.
- The beginning of the season of high demand for unskilled labor needed to harvest cash crops will improve income-earning opportunities for the poorest households between October and March.
- With the start of the primera staple food harvest, the annual hunger season has come to an end; food availability will improve, and markets are expected to respond with lower prices.
- Approximately 1 million people are currently highly food insecure, concentrated in the western and some eastern municipalities of the country. The majority of this food insecurity is chronic and due to structural factors, but food security of some households has worsened due to crop and infrastructure damages caused by heavy rainfall and low crop yields resulting from poor fertilization.
Guatemala Country Center

Central Asia

Afghanistan

09/29/2008

A comparative analysis of 2000-2008 Normalized Difference Vegetation Index imagery indicates that the 2008 drought has been the most severe during this perio ... more
- A comparative analysis of 2000-2008 Normalized Difference Vegetation Index imagery indicates that the 2008 drought has been the most severe during this period. Coupled with chronic food insecurity, high food prices and escalating civil insecurity in southern Afghanistan, this drought has led to widespread food insecurity affecting 35 percent of the Afghan population.
- In July, the Afghan government and the United Nations jointly appealed for $404.3 million in emergency aid. According to a Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development source, as of September 15, 2008, donor response has been discouraging and the food security component of the appeal is only 35 percent funded, primarily by USAID and DFID. To prevent a humanitarian crisis further donor commitments are needed.
- Summer temperatures in Afghanistan were above normal this year, negatively affecting water availability for autumn planting. In addition, ICRC field observation reveals that farmers in Northern Provinces only have access to very poor quality seeds. This is also true for other parts of the country as well. However, provision of improved seeds and chemical fertilizer is only recommended in areas where water availability is ensured.
- August 2008 retail prices for wheat are remarkably higher than the five-year average, particularly in Hirat, Kandahar and Jalalabad markets. Sharp increase in wheat prices are partially linked with Ramadan, when prices are typically higher due to increased demand. Wheat prices are likely to increase further in the coming months as rural Afghans purchase stocks prior to the arrival of winter (late-October or November).
Afghanistan Country Center

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