Areas of Highest Concern
Conflict events periodically affect trade, humanitarian access, and livelihoods. The loss of livelihood assets from conflict and floods has reduced household food and income sources and eroded coping capacity. Very poor macroeconomic conditions constrain household market access.
Food insecurity continues to worsen during the lean season, and southern Jonglei remains of highest concern. In Greater Equatoria, rainfall deficits are impeding first season planting.
Protracted conflict has severely disrupted livelihoods and reduced income-earning. Food prices remain elevated and food access is inadequate for many households. Currently, over 17 million people are in need of humanitarian food assistance.
Much of western Yemen has experienced a delayed start to the first rainy season (by two weeks or more) as of mid-April. Rainfall is forecast to be below average in the first rainy season.
Boko Haram attacks continue in the northeast, and insecurity in the northwest and central states are causing displacement of households and limiting access to livelihoods. Over 2.5 million people are currently internally displaced in these regions.
In mid-April, multiple attacks in Damasak in northern Borno State led to large-scale displacement with most populations fleeing to neighboring Niger or Geidam and Maiduguri in Nigeria.
In November, the significant uptick in conflict in Tigray due to tensions between the national and regional governments led to the disruption to the access of key income and food sources, such as labor migration and livestock sales.
Dry conditions prevailed across much of Ethiopia in early April, with below-average belg/gu/genna rainfall across most bimodal areas, which is driving below-average area planted in bimodal cropping areas.
Other Areas of Concern
Ongoing conflicts in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika Provinces have caused continuing displacement and affected households’ abilities to access typical livelihood activities.
After 8 months of ceasefire, more than 41,000 people were displaced in Kasai region at the end of March (OCHA).
The ongoing macroeconomic crisis due to persistent low foreign exchange reserves and increasing shortages of US dollars, coupled with high demand for imports of essential food and non-food items, is driving the rapid deterioration of the Sudanese pound.
Fuel and transport prices continue to remain high. Staple food prices are approximately 150-200 percent higher than last year and six times above the five-year average.
The deteriorating security situation is disrupting household access to livelihoods and markets. More than 3,000,000 people are displaced throughout the region.
Over 450 civilians have been killed in the region in 2021, a 12 percent increase compared to the same time last year.
Consecutive poor rainfall seasons including drought conditions for the 2020/21 season are expected to reduce agricultural production and food availability.
Production prospects remain below average, particularly across the south. New COVID-19 lockdown measures implemented to control the increase in new cases.
Areas of Highest Concern
| Country or Region | Reason for Concern | Observations |
|---|---|---|
| South Sudan |
Conflict events periodically affect trade, humanitarian access, and livelihoods. The loss of livelihood assets from conflict and floods has reduced household food and income sources and eroded coping capacity. Very poor macroeconomic conditions constrain household market access. |
Food insecurity continues to worsen during the lean season, and southern Jonglei remains of highest concern. In Greater Equatoria, rainfall deficits are impeding first season planting. |
| Yemen |
Protracted conflict has severely disrupted livelihoods and reduced income-earning. Food prices remain elevated and food access is inadequate for many households. Currently, over 17 million people are in need of humanitarian food assistance. |
Much of western Yemen has experienced a delayed start to the first rainy season (by two weeks or more) as of mid-April. Rainfall is forecast to be below average in the first rainy season. |
| Nigeria |
Boko Haram attacks continue in the northeast, and insecurity in the northwest and central states are causing displacement of households and limiting access to livelihoods. Over 2.5 million people are currently internally displaced in these regions. |
In mid-April, multiple attacks in Damasak in northern Borno State led to large-scale displacement with most populations fleeing to neighboring Niger or Geidam and Maiduguri in Nigeria. |
| Ethiopia |
In November, the significant uptick in conflict in Tigray due to tensions between the national and regional governments led to the disruption to the access of key income and food sources, such as labor migration and livestock sales. |
Dry conditions prevailed across much of Ethiopia in early April, with below-average belg/gu/genna rainfall across most bimodal areas, which is driving below-average area planted in bimodal cropping areas. |
Other Areas of Concern
| Country or Region | Reason for Concern | Observations |
|---|---|---|
| DRC |
Ongoing conflicts in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika Provinces have caused continuing displacement and affected households’ abilities to access typical livelihood activities. |
After 8 months of ceasefire, more than 41,000 people were displaced in Kasai region at the end of March (OCHA). |
| Sudan |
The ongoing macroeconomic crisis due to persistent low foreign exchange reserves and increasing shortages of US dollars, coupled with high demand for imports of essential food and non-food items, is driving the rapid deterioration of the Sudanese pound. |
Fuel and transport prices continue to remain high. Staple food prices are approximately 150-200 percent higher than last year and six times above the five-year average. |
| Bordering areas of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali |
The deteriorating security situation is disrupting household access to livelihoods and markets. More than 3,000,000 people are displaced throughout the region. |
Over 450 civilians have been killed in the region in 2021, a 12 percent increase compared to the same time last year. |
| Southern Madagascar |
Consecutive poor rainfall seasons including drought conditions for the 2020/21 season are expected to reduce agricultural production and food availability. |
Production prospects remain below average, particularly across the south. New COVID-19 lockdown measures implemented to control the increase in new cases. |
Food Security Alerts
Special Reports
Quick Links
About FEWS NET
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network is a leading provider of early warning and analysis on food insecurity. Created by USAID in 1985 to help decision-makers plan for humanitarian crises, FEWS NET provides evidence-based analysis on approximately 30 countries. Implementing team members include NASA, NOAA, USDA, USGS, and CHC-UCSB, along with Chemonics International Inc. and Kimetrica.
Learn more About Us.
