Mozambique: Drought pushes 33% of the population into food insecurity – WFP

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Mozambique: Drought pushes 33% of the population into food insecurity – WFP

4:10 CAT | 29 Aug 2024

Source: WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that 1.8 million people in seven provinces of Mozambique need assistance, with the percentage of the population at risk of food insecurity rising to 33% due to the drought.

“The prevalence of food insecurity in the assessed population has risen from 20 percent in 2023 to 33 percent in 2024 mostly due to the El Niño induced drought. The number of people severely food insecure (IPC4) is almost four times higher than in 2023,” reads the most recent WFP report, consulted by Lusa today.

The document, dated Monday, identifies the population’s “limited access” to food and water, “vulnerable groups subject to protection risks” who “tend to opt for and/or rely on negative and harmful coping mechanisms for survival, including risks of sexual exploitation and abuse”.

The document also identifies 1.1 million people as currently requiring emergency assistance in terms of food security and livelihood.

“El Niño is impacting the price of staple food crops pushing thousands into vulnerability. Overall, maize grain prices in June 2024 were 40 percent higher or more compared to last year, and 55 percent higher than the five-year average,” the WFP explains.

In the same report, the United Nations agency points out that “above-average prices, coupled with crop production failure and limited income opportunities, erode the purchasing power of poor and very poor households, leading to food consumption deficits and hunger”.

According to the WFP, the ‘El Niño’ phenomenon induced rainfall shortage and above-average temperatures that have resulted in drought conditions in central and southern Mozambique adding that “3.3 million people are projected to face food insecurity (IPC3+) during the lean season (October 2024 – March 2025)”.

Source: Lusa