Very high levels of food insecurity amongst IDP populations in northeastern Nigeria

Data from recent rapid assessments suggest very high levels of food insecurity among some displaced populations in northeast Nigeria. Improved humanitarian access and a significant increase in emergency assistance is urgently needed to save lives in the affected areas. Additionally, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity observed in neighboring areas of Niger and Chad will continue until September.

Average to above-average precipitation with a good temporal distribution was generally observed from late May to early June across much of the region. This rainfall has created favorable conditions for crop development and the restoration of pastures, particularly in central and eastern parts of the Sahel. This bodes well for the pastoral lean season ending soon, as well as for the intensification of agricultural activities that provide a potential source of employment and income for many poor households in the region.

Despite a seasonally normal decline, market supplies for basic foods remain average in the region due mainly to destocking activities by farmers and traders with the installation of the new season and normal cross-border trade. However, insecurity and conflict continue to disrupt the functioning of markets in northern Mali and in the region around Lake Chad.

The lean season is currently ongoing in agricultural areas. However, average to good climatic and market conditions are favoring at least average access to food and income in most agricultural and agropastoral zones. Given generally normal market functioning, households will be able to derive income through their usual strategies, maintaining Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity in general through at least the next harvests. 

Despite these favorable conditions, the incomes of poor households are not enabling adequate food access in some pastoral and agropastoral areas of Niger, Mali, Chad, Mauritania, and Senegal where either 2016 crop production was below average, herd sizes are atypically low, or poor pastoral conditions are currently being observed locally. However, the Stressed (IPC Phase 2) food insecurity will end in July in pastoral areas and in September in agropastoral areas.

In Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, commercial activities have resumed in general with markets sufficiently supplied. For most households, incomes are normalizing and are helping to ensure adequate food consumption. Minimal (IPC Phase 1) food insecurity is expected generally across the region except for in Sierra Leone where Stress (IPC Phase 2) will continue until September given weak household purchasing power which is limiting the ability of households to meet basic non-food needs.