About 2.3 million people in Honduras are likely experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity through May 2023 due to high food prices and natural disasters, including floods and tropical storms.

Between December 2022 and February 2023, which is when the postrera harvest has ended in most of the country, at least 2.3 million people (24% of the analyzed population) were in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse, thus requiring urgent actions with response objectives aimed at protecting livelihoods and reducing food consumption gaps. Almost 2 million people are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3), and over 310,000 are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) nationwide. Of the 20 areas analyzed (the 18 departments and the cities of Distrito Central and San Pedro Sula), 17 were classified in Phase 3, except for the departments of Islas de la Bahía, El Paraíso and the city of San Pedro Sula, which were classified in Phase 2.

From March to May 2023, the situation is likely to remain almost stable at the national level, with a proportion of 24% of the population (2.3 million) in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above); however, within the country in some departments, changes in severity, magnitude and classification are expected.

From June to August 2023, the situation shows a slight deterioration, with about 2.4 million people (25%) in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above). The result reflects varying dynamics within the country, which could be attributed to changes in the main livelihoods that have heterogeneous behaviours that do not necessarily coincide with the seasonality traditionally linked to agricultural production; this is more visible at present due to the economic recovery and possible “post-pandemic” effect of COVID-19.

• Preparation of an inter-institutional and multi-sectoral immediate response plan, following the protocols to address the population in Crisis or Emergency (IPC Phase 3 or higher), with differentiated actions to reduce gaps in food consumption, recovery and protection of livelihoods.

• Carry out the targeting of the population in a situation of vulnerability to acute food insecurity at the municipal level and departmental, which meets characteristics such as the depletion of its reserves and the use of Crisis strategies or Emergency.

• Expedite the timely delivery of social protection programs, food assistance and direct transfers to producers, as a mechanism that responds to essential needs and establishment of multi-stakeholder synergies.

• Continue with cooperation and government programs and projects that encourage the recovery of means of life and generation of response capacities with small farmers and entrepreneurs.

• Maintain a differentiated response plan for areas of the country with greater vulnerability to recurring phenomena natural and sociopolitical, contributing to their recovery, identifying immediate needs and promptly local solution.

• Encourage the creation of response mechanisms in the medium term that contribute to resilience through support cooperation agencies and government aid, such as the establishment of basic grain reserves, food banks and securing local markets.

• Promote marketing mechanisms that improve short circuits between producers and consumers to facilitate access to food in quantity and quality.

• Link the different food safety early warning information systems, goal-oriented common, to encourage coordinated and focused actions of international cooperation and government.

• Continue with the creation and strengthening of the Local Food and Nutrition Security Committees/SAN Tables regional authorities to have local structures with the capacity to manage the response to the different instances in issues associated with Food and Nutrition Security (SAN).