Food Security Statement for October 2022

October 2022
28
138

Key messages

  • About 56.6 million people in 10 of the 13 countries covered by FSNWG were highly food insecure (IPC Phase 3+) and in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in October 2022. Of these, about 26 million were from six of the eight IGAD member states.
  • Of most concern are the 361,560 people classified in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), 300,560 in Somalia, and 61,000 in South Sudan.
  • In southern and south-eastern Ethiopia, the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya, and across most of Somalia, unparalleled levels of acute food insecurity persist due to the ongoing severe two-year drought.
  • The current October-December (OND) rainfall season, which has so far recorded a poor start, is expected to be below average. Long-lead forecasts for the 2023 March-May rainfall season also indicate an increased probability of below-average rains, risking the occurrence of six consecutive seasons of drought in affected areas.
  • In the absence of scaled-up and sustained multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance, Famine (IPC Phase 5) is projected among agro-pastoral populations in Baidoa and Burhakaba districts, and among internally displaced populations (IDPs) in Baidoa town of Bay region in Somalia. Several other areas of central and southern Somalia also face a Risk of Famine.
  • Unprecedented levels of acute malnutrition (AMN) continue to be recorded, particularly in the drought-affected parts of the region. Combined with disease outbreaks, such as cholera and measles, this risks an increase in morbidity and mortality.
  • In South Sudan, record-breaking floods for a fourth consecutive year have affected nearly two-thirds of the country, disrupting livelihoods and humanitarian activities, and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
  • The number of forcibly displaced populations in the region has been on an increasing trend, driven by conflict and climatic shocks. As of 30 September 2022, the region hosted about 13.6 million IDPs and 4.97 million refugees and asylum seekers.
  • Increased advocacy and resource mobilization is needed in order to respond to the life-threatening levels of acute food insecurity and malnutrition in the region, as well as to protect livelihoods
Tags: Food Security , Nutrition