Major food security assessment launched by WFP in Djibouti... more click
NWFP and partners have launched a rural Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) in Djibouti. The process began with a food security and data collection training for enumerators and partners held from 30 April 30 to 3 May, followed by data collection in the five regions from 5-13 May. Preliminary findings will be presented in June. The aims of this in-depth assessment are to: (i) estimate the proportion of the rural food insecure in the five regions of Djibouti; (ii) further substantiate the main causes of food insecurity; and (iii) provide broad, feasible and appropriate recommendations on response options for improving food security. The household questionnaire is designed to provide quantitative data in the following areas of interest: (a) food security profiles and socio-economic characteristics; (b) household expenditures; (c) household food consumption patterns (frequency, diversity and source); (d) access to food, health, water, sanitation and education services; (e) household exposure and response to risk, including coping strategies; (f) assets and livelihoods; (g) normal and abnormal migration patterns; (h) seasonality of food insecurity and employment; and (i) screening for acute malnutrition using mid-upper-arm-circumference (MUAC).
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Relief food needs to increase significantly in parts of Ethiopia... more click
In Ethiopia, relief food needs are expected to increase significantly in belg crop-producing parts of Ethiopia between April and September 2012. According to the latest Food Security Outlook issued by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS-NET) and WFP, poor households in belg-receiving parts of southern and north-eastern Ethiopia (southern and eastern Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region [SNNPR] and Oromia, southern Tigray, eastern Amhara and north-eastern Afar) are expected to become increasingly food insecure due to poor crop and livestock production resulting from the late onset and below-average performance of the mid-February to May rains, which arrived between two and eight weeks late, depending on location. The impact of the poor anticipated production in 2012 is likely to be exacerbated in many belg-receiving areas by the lack of sufficient recovery time, since vulnerable households’ assets and other coping mechanisms were depleted during the 2011 crisis.
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Over 100,000 now affected by floods in Kenya.... more click
The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) reports that over 100,000 people nationwide have now been affected by heavy rains and floods in numerous regions across the country. KRCS officials have alerted families living in the lowlands along the Tana, Nyando and Nzoia Rivers to move to higher ground as rivers continue to swell due to ongoing rains. KRCS spokeswoman Nelly Muluka warned that the humanitarian situation in many parts of the country was worsening as heavy rains in many areas continued. According to Muluka, KRCS has activated its flood watch system and prepositioned its non-food item (NFI) stock as part of early action and preparedness for early recovery and less impact. KRCS is supporting those affected by floods through rescue, creation of awareness, provision of NFIs (tarpaulins, blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, jerrycans). Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological Department has predicted the current Long Rains would continue this month and warned Kenyans to be prepared for flash floods.
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Over 7,000 Congolese seek refuge in Rwanda.... more click
Following a recent outbreak in fighting in North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), more than 7,000 refugees have crossed into neighbouring Rwanda since 27 April, according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR. Most are women, children and the elderly coming from North Kivu's Masisi and Walikale territories, where fighting between rebel soldiers and government forces has left tens of thousands internally displaced. After crossing into Rwanda at the border town of Gisenyi, the new arrivals have been transported by UNHCR and partners to the Nkamira Transit Centre, 22 km to the east. They are provided with food and items such as plastic mats, jerry cans, and crockery. However, according to UNHCR, shelter is a major concern as the transit centre was only built to accommodate 2,600 people. While the Government of Rwanda, UNHCR and partners are working to scale up response, UNHCR has warned that if people continue arriving at a high rate, there would soon be critical gaps in humanitarian assistance. Rwanda is already hosting some 55,000 Congolese refugees who live in three already crowded camps across the country.
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Rains in Somalia now expected to be 60-85 per cent of average..... more click
In its latest Food Security Outlook for Somalia (April to September 2012), FEWS NET reports that under the most likely scenario, rains in Somalia are expected to be about 60 to 85 per cent of average, with erratic distribution in both time and space. In the worst case scenario, forecasts suggest there is a 30 per cent chance that rains will be about 60 per cent of average, or below. Gu rainfall will have a significant impact on food security for poor, agropastoral households dependent upon rain-fed crop production. Southern/central agropastoral and inland rain-fed cropping areas of Somalia, including areas still recovering from the 2011 Famine (IPC Phase 5), will experience a deterioration in food security due to anticipated poor Gu crop production in July and the limited number of saleable livestock over the course of the scenario period.
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