The IPC Analysis classified 2 provinces as falling under IPC Acute Phase 1, 12 provinces in IPC Phase 2, 9 provinces in Phase 3 and 2 provinces in Phase 4. The areas depicting high levels of acute food insecurity problems are mainly located in Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), in ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) as well as in the highly natural disaster prone belt along the east coast of Mindanao and in Lanao del Norte.

The main factors contributing to the food insecurity within the Mindanao Island Group are poor economic access due to high poverty, high underemployment and increased food prices. The destruction of livelihood assets and displacements due to typhoons, flooding, landslides, and drought and in some areas prolonged armed conflict further compound vulnerabilities. Overall, armed conflict, clan feuds (Rido), crime and violence between January and October 2012 led to the displacement of more than 170,000 persons within Mindanao.

During the same period, over 100,000 persons were displaced due to natural disasters. The vulnerability to natural hazards was recently highlighted by the wide-spread destruction caused by super-typhoon Bopha that hit Mindanao shortly after the initial IPC analysis of Mindanao. Some of the analysed provinces are on average in the path of up to 16 typhoons every year. 

Physical access to markets and food is an additional issue for geographically isolated areas such as the island provinces or the mountainous interior of provinces where majority of the poor are or with no to poor roads. Poor food utilization also plays an important role for populations with very limited access to improved water sources and sanitary toilets.

The detailed analysis, findings, population estimations and worksheets for each province are available upon contacting Ms. Hygeia Ceres Catalina (“Jigay”) B. Gawe, Nutrition Officer IV and OIC Nutrition Surveillance Division, National Nutrition Council, Department of Health at [email protected] or Mr. Alberto Aduna, Emergency Coordination Officer, FAO Philippines at [email protected] or Mr.Dipayan Bhattacharyya, VAM officer, WFP Philippines at [email protected].

The detailed analysis, findings, population estimations and worksheets for each province are available upon contacting Ms. Hygeia Ceres Catalina (“Jigay”) B. Gawe, Nutrition Officer IV and OIC Nutrition Surveillance Division, National Nutrition Council, Department of Health at [email protected] or Mr. Alberto Aduna, Emergency Coordination Officer, FAO Philippines at [email protected] or Mr.Dipayan Bhattacharyya, VAM officer, WFP Philippines at [email protected].