Food security levels are generally better than a year earlier in East Africa and the Sahel, with most areas facing either IPC phase 1 ‘minimal’ or phase 2 ‘stressed’ conditions, thanks to favorable agro-climatic conditions in 2012.
• Due to high levels of insecurity, pockets of IPC phase 4 ‘emergency’ food security conditions persist in areas of South Sudan’s Jonglei state, and in local areas in northern Mali. Parts of Mindanao province in the Philippines will also face phase 4 ‘emergency’ conditions, following the impacts of Typhoon Bopha. IPC phase 3 ‘crisis’ food insecurity prevails in parts of Haiti due to weather-related shocks in 2012.
• The escalating conflict in Syria continues to lead to displacement and re-displacement of people.
According to UNHCR, 4.25 million people are displaced and some 1.38 million people have fled to neighboring countries. Inside Syria, the food security situation is worsening; OCHA estimates that 6.8 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance. The surge in refugee numbers is stretching host government capacity in Jordan and Lebanon.
The conflict is also disrupting agricultural markets and trade in neighboring countries.
• Renewed conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region and in the Central African Republic has caused new population displacement. Dryness and conflict are causing deterioration in food security conditions in parts of Myanmar.
• High wheat prices are undermining poor household’s food access in Afghanistan, India, Kyrgyz Republic and Pakistan. As the lean season approaches, unusually high coarse grain prices are eroding pastoralist terms of trade in Niger.
• Coffee rust and lower coffee export prices are undermining rural employment in Guatemala and Honduras, impacting food access for households that rely on casual labor.
• Severe flooding in Colombia and Peru has caused displacement and damage to crops.
• Drought in parts of southern Africa has impacted crop development and may drive food price increases in the region.