Approximately 8.6 million people (24 percent of the analysed population) in parts of Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan are facing high levels of acute food insecurity between March to June 2024 with 1.6 million people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 7 million people in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). Of the 47 rural districts analysed, 20 have between 30 and 45 percent of their populations in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse).

The analysed districts have been severely affected by a series of climatic shocks, including the aftermath of devastating 2022 flooding and 2023 monsoon rains. In addition to climatic shocks - high food, fuel, and agricultural input prices, exacerbated by poor political and economic conditions, as well as livestock diseases and mild drought conditions in several parts of Sindh and Balochistan are also driving acute food insecurity. Urgent action is required to protect their livelihoods and reduce food consumption gaps.

The IPC acute food insecurity analysis in Pakistan covered 47 flood affected/vulnerable rural districts. These districts spread across Balochistan (21), Sindh (15), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (11) and account for approximately 35.6 million people or 15 percent of Pakistan’s total population. 

The situation is projected to improve slightly between July and November 2024 (Monsoon and post-harvest summer crop season) with 7.9 million people (22 percent of the analysed population) facing high levels of acute food insecurity representing an 8 percent decrease from the current analysis period. 

Recommendations to improve availability:

• As 25 percent of the population is classified in IPC Phase 3 or above, improved access to sufficient and nutritious food through appropriate modalities is necessary. This can be achieved through cash and voucher assistance, as well as in-kind provision, aiming at reducing the food consumption gaps and saving the lives of the population with high acute food insecurity level.
• Ensure timely provision of quality seeds for high-yielding crops, fodder, vegetables, and toolkits, especially to subsistence-level farmers including women farmers, and provide training on climate-smart crop and fodder production including guidance on kitchen gardening, agroforestry, good agriculture practices to help farmers adapt and boost productivity. 

Recommendations to address access issues

• Improve market access and infrastructure to support small-scale farmers to earn more and find new business options. 
• Protect and restore livelihoods to support families affected by flooding and price hikes, through initiating income-generation/ employment-creation livelihood support interventions.

Recommendations to address stabilization/utilization issues

• Reinforce asset creation to address climate-related hazards that impact food security for populations in Phase 2 or above. Initiate/scale-up disaster preparedness interventions in recurring climate shock-prone districts such as those affected by floods or drought, etc. 
• Construct and rehabilitate water infrastructure for agricultural activities such as tube wells, water channels, and reservoirs for better conservation and efficient management and utilization of the water. Resilient water infrastructure can help reduce the impact of recurring floods and droughts.