Lesotho: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for May-June 2016 and Projections for July - September 2016 and November 2016 - March 2017
RELEASE DATE
31.05.2016
VALIDITY PERIOD
31.05.2016 > 31.03.2017
 
 
 

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Key
results


Population
estimates


Recommendations
& next steps


Acute
Malnutrition


In the May-June 2016 period eight districts out of ten, i.e. Mafeteng, Leribe, Berea, Qacha’s Nek, Quthing, Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka, and Butha Buthe are classified as Phase 2 ‘Stressed’. Two districts (Maseru and Mohale’s Hoek) are in Phase 3 ‘Crisis’. There is no district that is classified in Phase 4, although all districts have population ranging from 4 to 15) that are thought to be facing an emergency food insecurity situation (Phase 4). All in all 44% of the total rural population are expected to be in Phase 1 (‘No/Minimal Acute Food Insecurity’), 34% in Phase 2 (‘Stressed’), 13% in Phase 3 (‘Crisis’), and 8% in Phase 4 (‘Emergency’).

First projection from July to October 2016: this is typically a post-harvest period when households have some food stock from their own production, and food prices are relatively stable with slight increases towards the end of the period. This year, however, very few if any households have stocks due to very poor harvest. This means that households become market dependent sooner than usually during the projection period. Food prices are expected to be higher than average and increasing due to lack of domestic production, and higher demand, and the dependence on imports from South Africa. Prices, even with government subsidies, are expected to increase by 15-25% compared to average over the projection period in all districts. In Mokhotlong, however, prices are expected to dramatically increase by up to 70%. In total, it is estimated that between 20 and 31% of the rural population will experience No or Minimal acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 1), 33% will be in Phase 2 (‘Stressed’), 26% in Phase 3 (‘Crisis’), and 11% in Phase 4 (‘Emergency’). The worst affected households, classified Phases 3 and 4, are typically the poor and very poor, who lack sufficient income to purchase food at higher food prices, as well as those who have already depleted or will deplete their main livelihood assets, such as livestock, in order to cover their food and non-food needs. All the districts are expected to be in Phase 3 ‘Crisis’ in the projection period, with typically up to a maximum of 15% of the population in Phase 4 ‘ Emergency’ by district.

 

Second projection from November 2016 to March 2017: Rainfall in the post-harvest period is typically very low, condition confirmed by rainfall forecast for 2016. Since water levels are already low due to poor rainfall, it is likely that the wheat harvest taking place early in the second projection period will be lower than usual. The peak of the lean season, normally taking place from December to February, is expected to manifest earlier (December) and more severely than usual due to depleted stocks, low winter wheat harvest and high food prices. Despite these conditions, it is still expected that food security situation is somewhat better compared to the first projection period. This is due to the fact that many households are expected to be able to increase their income by engaging in casual labour, given that the expected ‘La Nina’ phenomenon could bring ample rains to the county starting in October, thus increasing demand for agricultural labour. In the peak of the lean season, this source of income is likely to facilitate households’ access to food. In addition, social safety net programmes and food subsidies, are expected to lessen the impact of the lean season. In general, 46% of the rural population is expected to remain in IPC Phase 1, 29% will be in Phase 2 ‘Stressed’, 16% in Phase 3 ‘Crisis’, and the remaining 8% will be in Phase 4 ‘Emergency’. All the districts, except Leribe and Mokhotlong, will remain in Phase 3 ‘Crisis’ over the second projection period, with between 5 and 13% of rural population in Phase 4.

 


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