DISCLAIMER: Please note that this IPC Acute Food Insecurity analysis was integrated with an IPC Acute Malnutrition analysis.
As severe drought grips most parts of Somalia, food crisis is worsening in rural areas following consecutive seasons of poor rainfall and low river water levels, which led to near total crop failures and reduced rural employment opportunities, widespread shortage of water and pasture, consequent increases in livestock deaths, and rapidly diminishing food access among poor households as staple food prices continue to rise sharply and livestock prices decrease significantly. Rising food prices are also affecting food access among displaced and poor urban households. Total loss of livestock and destitution have been reported in some northern pastoral areas. There has also beefrom parts of Bakool and Bay Regions towards urban areas in Gedo, Lower Shabelle and Banadir. In the lead up to the start of the anticipated below normal 2017 Gu (April-June) season rainfall, staple food prices are expected to increase sharply, and widespread livestock mortality is likely to occur as pasture and water resources become depleted. Acute malnutrition remains high and widespread across Somalia. In a worst-case scenario where (i) the 2017 Gu (April-June) season performs very poorly, (ii) purchasing power declines to levels seen in 2010/2011, and (iii) humanitarian assistance is unable to reach populations in need, Famine (IPC Phase 5) would be expected. The latest findings from a countrywide seasonal assessment conducted in December 2016 indicate that over 2.9 million people face Crisis and Emergency (IPC Phases 3 and 4) across Somalia through June 2017. This represents more than two-fold increase compared to six months ago. Additionally, more than 3.3 million people are classified as Stressed (IPC Phase 2), bringing the total number of people facing acute food insecurity across Somalia to over 6.2 million. This seasonal assessment was jointly led by the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit for Somalia (FSNAU, a project managed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET, a project funded by USAID) and carried out with the active participation of Government institutions and other partners.
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