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Sudan: High Food Insecurity Levels in Sudan Persist, Driven by High Inflation, a Deteriorating Economy and High Food Prices

  • In the current period (June to September 2020), an estimated 9.6 million people (21% of the population analysed) are experiencing Crisis or worse levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) and are in need of urgent action. This is the highest figure ever recorded in the history of IPC in Sudan compared to previous years. Around 2.2 million people are facing an Emergency acute food insecurity situation (IPC Phase 4) and around 7.4 million people are facing Crisis acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3), while nearly 15.9 million people are estimated to be in Stress (IPC Phase 2). This is also a high figure compared to previous analyses; a result of population shifting to worse phases. Overall, all localities from 18 Sudanese States have been classified, with exception of At Tina locality in North Darfur and Abyei PCA area in West Kordofan, where there was no data collected and similar locality data could not be used either.
  • Food insecurity remains alarmingly high in Sudan with increased and protracted displacement, economic decline and inflation, and high food price hikes exacerbated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly decreased commodity movement, market function and cross-border trade, and compromised livelihoods, daily labour opportunities, reducing household purchasing power and food access of the vulnerable population.

KEY DRIVERS

  • COVID-19 prevention measures: Lockdown and other measures put in place to prevent COVID-19 spread had a negative impact on food availability and access, more precisely on prices, on income and food expenditure.
  • Economic decline and inflation: Significant macroeconomic challenges still prevail in the country, resulting in high inflation rates exacerbated by COVID-19 prevention measures.
  • Conflict induced displacements: Increased population movements and displacement due to fresh and protracted conflict. Internally displaced population reached 1.89 million people.

Actions Needed

  • Provide urgent actions to save lives and livelihoods of populations estimated in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) as well as to protect livelihoods and reduce food consumption gaps of the populations estimated in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis);
  • Provide emergency agricultural and livestock support to farmers, with special focus on localities prone to natural disasters including floods, drought and desert locust;
  • Scale up diversified livelihoods programmes for improved self-reliance, resilience building and social protection to all vulnerable communities classified under Phase 2, 3 and 4;
  • Conduct Agriculture and market polices and localization of improved seed cultivation;
  • Rehabilitate the infrastructure (roads, markets);
  • Implement water harvesting programs in water- deficit states;
  • Scale up and improve access to basic services (health and WASH) throughout the year;
  • Strengthen and support initiatives addressing cross-cutting issues of food security and nutrition status of vulnerable groups;
  • Promote good nutritional practices at household levels through nutrition sensitive activities such as home gardening and educational awareness on food and water safety.

 

 

Population in IPC Phases

 

 

IPC Classification Map

June - September 2020
October - December 2020

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