The IPC-AG classified ten provinces as IPC phase 3 (Crisis) and 13 provinces as IPC phase 2 (Stressed). None of the analysed provinces were in phase I, phase IV or phase V (Note: details on the 5 phases of the IPC Acute Food Security Classification can be found in Annex 2). In a number of provinces analysts found near equal percentages of the population to be in IPC phase II and III, pointing towards the need to further refine the analysis process, review cut-off levels and possibly consider adding certain additional indicators during a next classification round.

The provinces depicting highest levels of acute food insecurity problems are marked by a combination of high child mortality rates, a high prevalence of wasted children (over 10% of children under five wasted in the majority of Cambodian provinces), inadequate food consumption and elevated poverty.

The comparatively high stunting and anaemia rates among children under five (nationwide, 40% are stunted and 55% anemic) suggests that co-existing chronic malnutrition exacerbates vulnerabilities and heightens the risk that population groups fall into elevated levels of acute food insecurity when livelihoods are put under stress (for example due to floods, drought, food price increases, etc.).

Disaster-related damages and destruction of resources remained rather low during the main 2012 cropping season. Nationwide floods and drought combined affected roughly 8% of rice fields and destroyed nearly 1.5%. At such levels the country produced a significant rice surplus. Food availability, as measured by the staple food, is therefore generally not a limiting factor for food security in Cambodia.

The main drivers of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3) in the country are related to food access and malnutrition.

There are no recommendations available for this analysis.