- An estimated 54.8 million people in 10 of the 13 countries covered by the FSNWG were severely food insecure (IPC2 Phase 3+) and in need of urgent assistance in January 2021. Of these, about 31.9 million were from 7 of the 8 IGAD Member States (see Figure 1).
- Immediate life-saving food, livelihood, and nutrition support is needed in South Sudan where an estimated 105,000 people were in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5)3, largely due to chronic vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated by climatic shocks (particularly floods), conflict and insecurity, and macro-economic challenges.
- The humanitarian situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia remains grave. Even before the ongoing conflict, an estimated 600,000 people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, were already highly food insecure (IPC Phase 3+). It is therefore, likely that the situation will further deteriorate as conflict disrupts livelihoods and market functioning, and access challenges adversely affect the delivery of humanitarian and other essential services.
- The nutrition situation in the region remains a major source for concern. In South Sudan, for instance, about 1.4 million children under the age of five are expected to face acute malnutrition through 2021.
- Staple food prices in most markets in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan will likely be elevated through 2021 due to macroeconomic challenges and high inflation rates.
- Funding shortfalls continued to drive food ration cuts – ranging between 10-40% – among refugees in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, exposing them to an increased risk of food insecurity and malnutrition.
Tags:
FSNWG
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food security
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Nutrition
