Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in West Africa - FAO’s Regional Response

Challenges facing agriculture and food security

• The Ebola outbreak is proving to have a wide security, economic and livelihood impact on all affected countries and on the West African region as a whole.
• Restrictions on movement out of, into and within affected countries have resulted in a shortage of availability of goods and services.
• Labour shortages at this very critical moment of the agriculture season, with rice, maize and cocoa crops to be harvested in the coming months in the affected areas could lead to a reduction of food availability and decreased purchasing power of the most vulnerable farmers.
• Market disruptions, limited or non-existent transport services, increased general living expenses and food prices due to high demands and low supply are causing food insecurity.

FAO priorities

• Save lives as part of UN coordinated response through social mobilization, training and awareness raising activities.
• Boost incomes and agricultural production to safeguard livelihoods through rapid impact assessments and support to crop and livestock production, cash transfers, post-harvest activities and trade/marketing.
• Build resilience of communities to disease threats by improving early warning systems and emergency response.
• Strengthen coordination by reinforcing food security/nutrition clusters and surge response mechanisms.