In focus
• Due to conflict, ‘Emergency’ (IPC phase 4) levels of food insecurity exists in local areas of South Sudan, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, South and West Yemen and northern Mali. ‘Crisis’ (IPC phase 3) conditions prevail in parts of Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. The after effects of shocks and instability in Nigeria are contributing to ‘Crisis’ or ‘Stressed’ food security outcomes that will last through the June-September lean season in agropastoral zones of the Sahel. Due to shocks in 2012 and delayed rains, ‘Stressed’ (IPC phase2) food insecurity persists in most of Haiti.
• The May-June FAO-WFP Syria Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) estimates that 4 million Syrians are food insecure. Lack of income, high prices and increasing shortages are limiting Syrian household’s ability to access basic staples.
• As a result of poor rains in parts of Southern Africa, tradable staple food supplies in the region are limited while maize prices are above-average. According to national VAC assessments, some 1.4 million people are at risk of food insecurity in Malawi, May-June 2013 VAC assessments have shown that the food insecure population in Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe is above the 5 year average. In Namibia, a May WFP assessment showed evidence of high household coping in drought-affected areas.
• Some 50,000 refugees and returnees have arrived in eastern Chad from Sudan so far this year. New displacement and insecurity in Sudan’s Darfur and in the Central African Republic are undermining livelihoods, and could affect the 2013 crop.
• The 2013 growing season is underway in east Africa and the Sahel. March to May rains were adequate in most parts of the Greater Horn of Africa, with the exception of the northeastern Ethiopian highlands. Rice availability in Asia remains ample and prospects for the main wheat harvest are favorable in Central Asia.
• The spread of coffee leaf rust is expected to continue disrupting rural labor markets in Central America during the 2013/2014 season.
• Insufficient January to May rainfall has led to crop and livestock losses in Bolivia and Ecuador.