Shortages of basic foodstuffs persist in the areas under blockade

Due to long lead times, households in areas under blockage are subject to food shortages. Distributions by air are occurring but remain far below population needs. In order to obtain income, poor host households and IDPs are often forced to go beyond their safety radius in search of wild fruits and for the collection of fodder and wood. However, with record price levels of foodstuff procured from very few individuals, revenues from these activities remain insignificant. As a result, there is an increased frequency of entire days without food, and many households continue to face Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity.

Successes in Banwa province and the communes of Sebba and Falangountou are the results of the rise in the offensive of the defense and security forces (FDS) and their allies (VDP). In recent months, however, attacks by militant groups have been causing new population displacements, especially in central, northern, and northwest areas, spanning Sourou, Nayala, Passoré, Zondoma, BAM,  and Yatenga provinces. The persistence of insecurity in the north is causing secondary displacements towards large urban centers and relatively calmer areas in the south in search of mining and vegetable production jobs.

The main sources of income for poor households include gold panning and market gardening, especially in more accessible areas. Overall, revenue from these activities remains below average due, on the one hand, to limited access to certain sites and, on the other hand, to the high cost of inputs for production, resulting in households reducing their areas to be sown. Moreover, in areas under blockade, these activities are limited, so poor households rely more on remittances from migrants to repay debts and build up stocks of foodstuffs.

Cereal supplies have improved in calmer production areas in the south because of the new harvests. Still levels remain below normal because producers are cautious about selling due to the earlier record prices. Demand is strong for the replenishment of trader stocks and processing units. The expected seasonal drop in prices was short in December, particularly for maize, since slight increases were observed just one month after the harvest. Military convoys of goods were organized in January for markets in Sebba and Titao after a three-month interruption. Since the end of last November, the Djibo market has been waiting for supplies, resulting in food shortages and record price levels of nearly 600 percent compared to the five-year average.