>  Alerts archive   >  issue 82
© WFP

BANGLADESH: nearly 9 million people experience high levels of acute food insecurity between March and April 2023 driven by repeated climatic shocks and high food prices

Report

Bangladesh is a riverine and fertile country and the main livelihood activities of the majority of the population are predominantly agriculture, including crop, livestock and fisheries along with other economic activities. However, it is one of the most susceptible countries to climate change for which management of climate risks has been central to the country’s development. Disasters that have made an impact in Bangladesh include heavy flooding and continuous riverbank erosion and atypical flooding in 2022 impacted over 7 million people and caused over 2 million people to displace.

During the current period of analysis (March to April 2023 – harvest season), nearly 9 million people in parts of Bangladesh (24 percent of the analysed population) experienced high levels of acute food insecurity, classified in IPC Phase 3 and 4. An estimated 7.9 million people are in IPC Phase 3, Crisis and nearly 1 million people are in IPC Phase 4, Emergency. High inflation, coupled with reduced incomes and repeated climatic shocks are putting extreme stress on the poorest households and driving acute food insecurity in the analysed population. Urgent action is required to protect their livelihoods and reduce food consumption gaps.

Over 2 million people are projected to be in IPC Phase 4, Emergency between May and September 2023 with a majority of these people being forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. It is likely that household access to food will further deteriorate in this period due to the slow recovery from shocks that occurred in 2022 – severe flooding and prolonged exposure to high food prices – as well as a lean season. The influx of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) will continue to increase due to the reduction in humanitarian assistance in March 2023 and funding shortfalls in the projected period.


Download the report

Join our mailing list  

  >