Improvement in household food security with green harvest in September

• Staple food availability is average following new harvests of maize, rice and vegetables and normal seasonal income generating opportunities. Household food insecurity is expected to remain at Minimal levels (IPC Phase 1) from September through December 2013.

• Moderately higher than average rainfall in September resulted in localized damages to crops and infrastructure. However, no major impact on crop production and livelihoods has been reported. The seasonal forecast continues to support a good end of the main agricultural season in October, which should lead to at least an average harvest.

• Despite the heavy rainfall recorded this year, only minimal cases of cholera have been reported, generally limited to Kambia and Kono Districts. The government is continuing to implement preventative measures in order to avoid a larger scale outbreak. 

The spatial distribution of the Rainfall Estimate (RFE) from early April to late August shows that monthly accumulations were moderately higher than normal (10 to 50 percent above the 5-year average). This has caused some localized flooding that affected Freetown and coastal areas. However, according to the Disaster Management Department of Sierra Leone, these floods will not compromise good prospects for harvests country wide, with an average to above average harvest expected.

In general, climate conditions remain favorable leading up to the green harvest of sweet potatoes, maize, millet and some vegetables in September, following seasonal trends. This will lead to improvement in household food security conditions through October during the period of the main harvest, and will favor market stocks, stable rice prices, normal labor opportunities, and average incomes from the sales of forest and farm products, as well as petty-trade. Typical livelihood strategies are likely to remain in place until October, and food insecurity will remain Minimal (IPC Phase 1) through December 2013. Despite heavy rainfall in early September, no cholera outbreak have been reported to-date. The National government has taken measures to prevent another epidemic, such as was seen in 2012.