Pakistan: Acute Food Insecurity in Balochistan January - July 2019 and Projection for July - November 2019 and Sindh October 2018 - July 2019 and Projection for July - October 2019
RELEASE DATE
01.06.2019
VALIDITY PERIOD
01.10.2018 > 30.11.2019

Key
results


Recommendations
& next steps


Acute
Malnutrition


Balochistan:

Around 1.79 million people (48% of the rural population) in 14 drought-affected districts (Awaran, Chaghai, Dera Bugti, Gwadar, Jhal Magsi, Kacchi, Kech, Kharan, Killa Abdullah, Loralai, Nushki, Panjgur, Pishin and Washuk) are estimated to currently be in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and Phase 4 (Emergency). An estimated 0.42 million people are classified in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) across the 14 drought-affected districts and require urgent action to save lives and livelihoods, whereas around 1.37 million people are in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and urgent action is required to protect their livelihoods and reduce food consumption gaps or deficits. The analysis of the projection period (July to November 2019) indicates that the number of people in Phase 3 and Phase 4 is expected to reduce slightly to 1.78 million. Rural areas of two districts (Chaghai and Washuk) currently in Phase 4 (Emergency) are likely to remain in the same emergency phase; however, rural areas of the Dera Bugti district are likely to move from Phase 3 (Crisis) to Phase 4 (Emergency) during the projection period. Drought-affected rural areas in the remaining 13 districts are likely to remain in Phase 3 (Crisis) between July and November 2019.

Out of 14 districts analysed, rural areas of 2 districts (Chaghai and Washuk) have been classified in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), based on the 20% rule of the IPC (i.e. area has at least 20% of the population in the worst phase), whereas drought affected areas in 12 districts (Awaran, Dera Bugti, Gwadar, Jhal Magsi, Kacchi, Kech, Kharan, Killa Abdullah, Loralai, Nushki, Panjgur and Pishin) are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis).

The population in these districts has been experiencing drought-like conditions for the past few years, which aggravated (moderate to severe) from August to December 2018. The current episode of drought has adversely affected the livelihoods of the rural population in these districts. The drought also adversely affected the food (cereals) production and livestock in these districts, and subsequently affected the livelihoods and food security situation.

Sindh:

Around 1.28 million people (57% of the rural population) in drought-affected areas of 7 districts (Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Badin, Dadu and Qambar Shahdadkot) are currently estimated to be in Crisis and Emergency (IPC Phase 3 and Phase 4). More than half a million people are classified in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) across the drought-affected areas in these 7 districts and require urgent action to save lives and livelihoods, whereas around 0.69 million people are in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and urgent action is required to protect their livelihoods and reduce food consumption gaps or deficits. The analysis for the projection period (July to September 2019) indicates that the total population in Phase 3 and Phase 4 is expected to reduce slightly to 1.25 million (56% of the rural population) from 1.28 million (57% of rural population). Drought-affected areas of 4 districts (Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar and Jamshoro) currently in Phase 4 (Emergency) will remain in the same emergency phase. Drought-affected areas in the remaining 3 districts (Badin, Dadu and Qambar Shahdadkot) are expected to remain in Phase 3 (Crisis), although 15-18% of the rural population of drought-affected areas in these districts is estimated to be in Phase 4.

4 out of the 7 drought-affected districts analysed (Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar and Jamshoro) have been classified in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), whereas drought-affected areas in 3 districts (Badin, Dadu and Qambar Shahdadkot) are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). The current dry spell adversely affected farmers: due to limited availability of irrigation water, subsistence level farmers could not cultivate land optimally and produce adequate cereals and pulses for their own consumption.

The population in these districts/areas has been experiencing drought (mild to severe) for the past few years and drought conditions were aggravated August-December 2018. The current episode of drought has adversely affected the livelihoods, mainly agriculture based, of the rural population in these districts/areas. The drought adversely affected food/cereals production and livestock – the core assets of the communities in these districts/areas – and subsequently affected livelihoods and the food security situation.


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