Food insecurity expected to rise significantly in Wadi Fira and Barh El-Ghazel
Summary
Below-average and poorly distributed rains during the 2013 rainy season caused significant agricultural production deficits in the Wadi Fira and Barh El-Ghazel Regions. In addition to reducing food stocks and agricultural income levels, these rainfall conditions also caused below-average pastoral conditions. An atypically fast increase in cereals prices starting in February, combined with below-average household food stocks and unfavorable livestock-to-cereal terms of trade for pastoralists will limit household food access in the coming months. Currently, the majority of households are still able to cover their food needs. However, food consumption gaps are likely between April and the end of the lean season in September, driving Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity. Appropriate and well-targeted assistance to poor agropastoral households is needed to prevent these expected food consumption gaps.
