Stressed outcomes persist in the west and north as food stocks rapidly deplete

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Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes for poor households in the Imbo Plains and Northern Lowlands in August are expected to persist due to the rapid depletion of 2024 Season B food stocks. In the Imbo Plains, food insecurity has been driven by below-average crop production and income sources due to flooding and the overflow of Lake Tanganyika. Additionally, limited access to cross-border opportunities in the north has further reduced income and purchasing power for poor households. Meanwhile, Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes are expected to persist in the rest of the country, supported by near-average Season B agricultural production and average availability of income sources.
In July 2024, food prices remained above five-year averages but were stable compared to the previous year, supported by near-average food stocks from the 2024 Season B production. Most staple commodity prices fluctuated 10 percent above or below last year’s prices, but were 20 to 45 percent above the five-year averages. However, the price of Irish potatoes is 25 percent higher than last year and 45 percent above the five-year average. This atypically high price is driven by below-average production since early 2024, primarily caused limited availability of agricultural input for 2024 Seasons A and B.
Despite seasonal stability of food prices, the inflation rate increased to nearly 20 percent in July 2024, up from 15 percent in June and 10 percent May. The increase is mostly due to a critical macroeconomic situation which has exacerbated the instability of the BIF and official exchange rates (which are now up to half of the parallel market rate) and is reducing import capacity. The low foreign currency reserve forces traders to increasingly rely on the parallel market for imports, resulting in higher prices for imported goods. Limited imports have led to fuel shortage across the country, leading to increased transport costs and restricting the movement of food at the national level.
Humanitarian funding shortages continues to limit humanitarian assistance. According to the WFP’s July brief, approximately 58,000 refugees and asylum seekers received about 70 percent of their typical monthly food ration in July, and only 30 percent of the 2024 humanitarian needs are funded. Food consumption gaps are expected to increase through the projection period due to limited humanitarian funding and above-average food prices. Additionally, humanitarian food assistance covering a three-month ration has been provided to 2,800 returnees, and is expected to continue through October.

Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Burundi Key Message Update August 2024: Stressed outcomes persist in the west and north as food stocks rapidly deplete, 2024.

This Key Message Update provides a high-level analysis of current acute food insecurity conditions and any changes to FEWS NET's latest projection of acute food insecurity outcomes in the specified geography. Learn more here.