Stressed (IPC Phase 2) food insecurity in certain areas due to residual Ebola impacts

The World Health Organization declared Sierra Leone free of Ebola on November 7^th, and the country has now entered a 90-day period of enhanced surveillance by the Government and its partners. This situation will provide favorable conditions for a slow economic recovery and for improving household incomes. 

The joint CILSS/FEWS NET/FAO/WFP/Government mission conducted in October estimated that the 2015/16 crop production levels for both rice and cassava will be 10 percent higher than last year’s levels. Compared to the five-year average, rice and cassava production will have increased 28 percent and 23 percent, respectively. Food supply levels will likely, in turn, be sufficient to meet local consumption needs, maintain stable prices, and ensure adequate food access for households in most areas.

Food security outcomes continue to improve compared to previous months as the newly harvested crops, the increased labor and crop sale opportunities, and the relatively stable food prices improve poor households’ food access and provide seasonal incomes to support their food and non-food expenditures. Consequently, most areas are expected to face Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity through at least March 2016.

However, many poor households in Kenema, Kailahun, Kambia, Pujenhun, Port Loko, Tonkolili, and Kono continue to face reduced purchasing power due to a slower recovery from Ebola-related shocks (market interruptions and reduced income sources from crop sales, petty trade, bush meat sales, etc.). This slower recovery is preventing them from fully meeting their non-food needs, such as education and healthcare costs and consequently, they will remain Stressed (IPC Phase 2) through March 2016. Within these districts, poor households who lost a family member to Ebola will likely face some of the worst food security outcomes. 

For more detailed analysis, see the Food Security Outlook Update for October.