KEY MESSAGES
Poor agropastoral households in central and northern areas of the country are unable to meet their food needs without resorting to atypical coping strategies and cutting the size and/or number of their daily meals. These households will face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity through September 2015.
The sharp deterioration in pastoral conditions in the groundnut basin and southeastern areas of the country, due to the shortage of pasture and scarcity of watering holes, is heightening the severity of the lean season for pastoral populations. In particular, livestock are in poor physical condition, which is driving a higher than usual livestock mortality risk and resulting in reduced pastoral incomes, limiting market access for affected households.
Thus far, cumulative rainfall totals have been below average, delaying the start-up of farming activities in certain areas. While rainfall levels are expected to increase during the next couple of weeks, certain seasonal forecasts show an increased probability of below-average rainfall between July and September. Thus, rainfall levels and agricultural conditions need to be closely monitored.
