Poor households face high food inflation this lean season

In market across the country, prices of primarily imported staple foods (rice, white beans, vegetable oil, wheat flour, and fish) continue to rise and remain above those of last year during the same period. The main factors causing price inflation are: the restrictions on the sale of cereal products and vegetable oil by Cameroon, as well as the impact of high global prices for agricultural raw materials and hydrocarbons from the crisis in Ukraine.

Supplies of staple foods in markets are low in areas under armed occupation. The growing threats of explosive devices on the main roads are disrupting supply chains, influencing the availability and also likely the prices of products. Market access and flow are average in areas less affected by conflict (such as in Dimbi and Bangui).

Income-generating activities and livelihood strategies of populations in areas where the security situation is still unstable are extremely disrupted given the persistence of tensions and abuses. According to the Commission on Population Movement, in April 2022 the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country was estimated at 658,265, an increase of 8,471 (1.38%) compared to the previous month, with the highest concentrations in the prefectures of Ouham-Pende, Ouham, Nana-Gribizi, Ouaka, Basse-Kotto, and Haute-Kotto. The new waves of displacement are mainly due to armed clashes and attacks, particularly in the transhumance corridors of Ombella-M'Poko and Ouham-Pendé, Mboumou, and Bamingui-Bangoran.

Even with higher than average seasonal rainfall in May (PAM-VAM, CHIRPS/UCSB), conflicts and insecurity problems—particularly in Ouham and Ouham-Pendé, Ouaka, Mboumou, and Ombella-M'Poko—have sharply reduced the agricultural areas planted during the current agricultural season compared to last year. Concern for food insecurity remains high given households’ severely limited access to fields for agricultural activities and labor opportunities, impeding their food accessibility as well as their livelihoods.

Rising prices and low supply in conflict-affected areas limit food accessibility. Poor and very poor households in the southeastern prefectures and IDPs in the northwestern, northeastern, and central prefectures are currently facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity until the September 2022 harvests. Areas less affected by conflict are experiencing Minimal (IPC Phase 1) or Stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity.