>  Alerts archive   >  issue 56
©OCHA

SADC Region: 36 million people in ten countries highly food insecure due to conflict, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic

Millions of people continue to experience high levels of acute food insecurity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, exacerbated by conflict, drought, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic decline. Around 36 million people in ten countries are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), including Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia.

As of February 22, 2022, Integrated Food Insecurity Phase Classification (IPC) analyses (conducted between June and November 2021) showed that, out of 167 million people analysed, 36 million people were classified in IPC Phase 3 or above. This means people can meet minimum food needs but only by depleting essential livelihood assets or through crisis or emergency coping strategies. The countries hosting the worst-affected populations, classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), include Angola, DRC and Madagascar.

The IPC Acute Food Insecurity analyses, conducted by National Vulnerability Assessment Committees (NVAC) comprised of government, humanitarian and development partners, recommend the provision of immediate humanitarian assistance in areas where people are in Crisis or Emergency (IPC Phase 3 or 4) to reduce food deficits. They also recommend improving water and sanitation conditions, housing and COVID-19 mitigation measures, and strengthening household livelihoods.

Join our mailing list  

  >