According to the IPC, at least 63.4 million people in 10 of the 13 countries covered by the FSNWG were highly food insecure (IPC Phase 3+) in May 2023. In addition, 20.1 million people were targeted for food assistance in Ethiopia, according to the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). If this figure is added on, an estimated 83.5 million people were in need of urgent food assistance during the month in 11 of the 13 countries covered by the FSNWG.
Ongoing clashes in Sudan are expected to drive a further deterioration in the food security situation, with 19.9 million people projected to be food insecure through September 2023 if the conflict continues.
The number of forcibly displaced populations has been on an upward trend, with about 5 million refugees and asylum seekers and 11.81 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) present in the region as of April 2023.
El Niño conditions, associated with drier conditions in the northern parts of the region during the June-September (JJAS) season and wetter conditions in the equatorial parts during the October-December (OND) season, are forecast to persist during the last half of 2023 into early 2024.
