Famine Early Warning Systems Network

Poor households in Cuene, Huíla, and Namibe remain in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and in need of humanitarian food assistance. They face food consumption deficits amid low levels of income following consecutive droughts that drove a decline in the availability of crops, agricultural labor, and natural resources for self-employment. 

Since January, rainfall in the southwest has improved, with most areas of the country now registering average or above-average rainfall. With the forecast for average to above-average rainfall through April, and the distribution of seeds that has encouraged households in Huíla and Cunene to reseed crops, crop production is likely to be better than last year, including in many areas of concern in the southwest. The exception to this is Namibe where rainfall performance has been relatively poor and low crop production is likely. 

Improving economic performance has allowed for an increase in food imports by the Strategic Food Reserve and has allowed the Central Bank to reduce its support to the Kwanza. For poor households who rely on markets to access food, economic growth and increasing strategic reserves will allow the government to curb food inflation. 

Poor households in the southwest are likely to remain in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) through July. However, food security is slowly improving as food prices decline and income from agricultural labor and self-employment are increasing. Improvement to Stressed (IPC Phase 2) is expected in July, when the harvest is also available. In Namibe province, improvement is also expected; however, not all poor households will improve, and of greatest concern are poor households in Tombwa and Virei of Namibe, where seasonal progress has been particularly poor. Although less than 20 percent of the population of these areas will remain in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) during the harvest period, there will remain populations in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and in need of humanitarian food assistance.