Complex emergencies and protracted crises
Complex emergencies, involving government failure and conflict, and worsened by HIV/AIDS and natural hazards, have profound impacts on food security. The last decade has seen a visible rise in complex emergencies where conflict has led to the breakdown or collapse of social, political and economic structures.
Programming is challenged by:
- uncertainty and frequent reversals
- problems assessing need and reaching people
- misappropriation and insecurity
Research and policy analysis
FAO carries out research and policy analysis on food security in complex emergencies through assessing:
- economic, political and social causes of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition
- vulnerability and risk reduction
- impact of crises/response on food security.
Recovery of lost data on natural resources
Sixteen years of civil war have resulted in loss or damage of most of Somalia’s water and land-related information.
The Somalia Water and Land Information Management Programme (SWALIM) is recovering lost data and re-establishing data collection networks, allowing improvements to:
assessment of river flow and groundwater resources
analysis of land characteristics, degradation and suitability
flood warning and flood management
SWALIM hosts the system until it can be handed over to national authorities, providing information for stakeholders in support of water, agricultural and pastoral development.
Examples of FAO’s relief and rehabilitation programmes in complex emergency countries
