A total of 147 localities have been classified, and all localities in Northern and Central states were classified between Phase 1 and 2, mainly due to better availability and accessibility to food, availability of basic services and stability in livelihoods systems. IPC Phase 3 found to be mostly in some localities in the states of West, East and South parts of the country where the main causes are presence of large numbers of new IDPs, refugees, returnees and poor access to food due high prices and insecurity, while in Eastern states the main causes are the high rates of malnutrition and poor access to food.

High food prices is a major factor limiting access to food across different affected areas. Between March and April, prices increased from 5 to 13 percent in some major markets inf North Kordofan, North Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan states due to increased demand for domestic consumption and reduced markets supply. While prices have stabilized in most localities in the states of Khartoum, Blue Nile, River Nile because of the relative stability in imports, prices drop was observed in some markets, in the main production areas of the country such as Gedaref, Al Jazeera, and White Nile for the relatively low demand for border trade with South Sudan after re-closure of the border. For the month of March 2016, prices were on average 25 percent higher compared to the same period last year, while they are exceeded the last five years by 65 percent.

Compared with the previous update (September-November 2015), a relative improvement in the food security situation has been found in some localities, which have  shifted from Phase 2 (Stress) to phase 1 minimum food insecurity. Also, some localities deteriorated as a result of the above mentioned reasons, in addition to the occurrence of El Nino and its impact on food security.

April - July 2016

Recommendations for interventions are suggested by the TWGs at states and national levels according to the current update. These recommendations can contribute in solving the causes for the worse phases to enhance food and nutrition security in the country.

Phases 1 & 2:

• Promote income generating activities to build resilience and to overcome the rise in food prices.
• Transfer of agricultural technology to increase production and productivity.
• Continue the ongoing programs of the Ministry of health in improving nutrition and health services.
• Support database programs, as well as early Warning to follow up the upcoming events which affect food and nutrition security and livelihood.
• Encourage financing of women's associations for the development of rural women who have a vital role in Food security.
• Preservation of the environment at household level.
• Find a good system for monitoring and evaluation to monitor food security indicators
• Improving irrigation systems to boost production and productivity.
• Landscaping and planting green belts to prevent desert creeping.
• Provide irrigated fodder within the agricultural rotations.
• Precautions action is necessary to implement a protection mechanism for climate changes and their impact on agriculture.

Phase 3:

• Humanitarian interventions to save lives and livelihood.
• Peace building and resolution of conflict.
• Expansion of Zakat Chamber activities in providing means of production for poor families and small producers.
• The provision of clean drinking water.
• Expansion of community farms and replication of them as lessons learned in the creation of mechanisms to enhance dietary diversity.
• Provide irrigated fodder within the agricultural rotations.
• Develop marketing policies to protect against rising prices and control the markets.
• Risk reduction of ongoing threats faced some localities such as the, floods, desertification and desert encroachment.
• Support the provision of agricultural inputs for small scale producers.
• Expansion in the health insurance programmes and continues the distribution of the necessary vitamins for children and mothers to reduce the risk of diseases.
• Precaution measure to reduce the impact of price rise.
• Facilitation of microfinance to enable all community access to finance.
• Precautions action is necessary to implement a protection mechanism for climate changes and their impact on agriculture.