Likely decline in food sources in northern Burkina Faso between April and June

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Although most blockaded localities have received supplies to their markets by military escort over the past three months, the towns of Djibo and Sebba have not been supplied since December and November 2023, respectively. As a result, shortages for main staple foods, with the exception of maize and vegetables, were observed in Djibo. Maize, which is in short supply, saw a 28 percent price increase compared with the previous month, 13 percent compared with last year and 106 percent compared with the five-year average for the same period (SIM/SONAGESS).
At the start of Ramadan in March, households had been able to build up some stocks thanks to remittances from out-of-town relatives. However, with food shortages now underway, households' access to food is decreasing. In March, humanitarian partners and the government were able to distribute monthly rations covering at least 75 percent of food needs in Arbinda, Sebba and Titao, but in Djibo and the Oudalan province, food assistance remained irregular and insufficient. In Djibo in particular, although water resources are becoming increasingly limited to enable market gardening as in previous months, some households are still managing to derive part of their food and income from vegetable production. The overall contribution of wild foods to households' food needs remains marginal, despite an expansion in the security radius around town. Schoolchildren are benefiting from school feeding programs. However, the majority of households are consuming one meal a day, and adults are forced to limit their consumption in favor of their children. As a result, extreme strategies such as begging and going a day and night without a meal are increasing, and poor households are exposed to Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes.
The security situation continues to negatively impact the operation of health services across northern Burkina Faso. Over the last three months, 26,447 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition were admitted to health centers nationwide, and 245 deaths were recorded (Direction de la nutrition, bulletin n°13). These cases represent an increase of 16 percent and 33 percent, respectively, compared with last year. In inaccessible areas, particularly in the health districts of the Sahel and Eastern regions, reduced access to healthcare services (with 69 percent and 28 percent of health centers closed - Health Cluster) and shortages of nutritional supplements prevent malnourished people from receiving adequate care. These regions accounted for 30 percent and 14 percent of deaths, respectively, during the quarter.
In Loroum, market gardening around the Titao dam is likely to be reduced by the early drying up of the water. More than half of all households used to derive their main sources of food and income from this activity. Households are now forced to dig wells in the reservoir bed to save their crops. A similar situation is being observed at the Djibo dam, where water levels have dropped considerably. Market garden production will be limited until the first rains come, depriving households of one of their key sources of food and income.

Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Burkina Faso Key Message Update March 2024: Likely decline in food sources in northern Burkina Faso between April and June, 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.