Early Warning Systems Hub Reports

FAO assesses that globally 45 countries, including 34 in Africa, are in need of external assistance for food. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly through the loss of income and jobs related to containment measures, have severely aggravated global food security conditions, as well as increasing the number of people in need of assistance. Conflicts and weather shocks remained critical factors affecting the current high levels of severe food insecurity.

For the current period (June - August 2020), 23% of the analysed population (2.6 million people) is facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). 38% of the population is in Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and 40% is in Minimal Acute Food Insecurity (IPC Phase 1). The population in IPC Phases 3 and 4 is employing Crisis coping strategies due to increasing food consumption gaps and reduced dietary diversity. In the current period, an estimated 1.5 million people in 14 refugee settlements and 11 hosting districts, (26% of the population analysed) are facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) and are in need of urgent action. Out of the 1.5 million people in refugee camps and host communities classified in IPC Phase 3 or above, approximately 1 million reside in host communities (23% of the host community population analysed) , while nearly 500,000 are in refugee settlements, (32% of refugees in 14 refugee settlements.)